Gardening can be a great way to improve the environment around you, but what if you are not sure which plants are best for wildlife? We have compiled a list of eight trees and shrubs that are well-suited for your garden.
If you want to attract more birds, songbirds, butterflies, or amphibians to your yard while adding beauty simultaneously, then check out these 8 wildlife-preferred trees & shrubs!
When you’re designing your landscape, it’s important to think about the wildlife that will be visiting it and the deer food plot starter kits available here. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that trees and shrubs can hugely impact attracting or repelling different types of animals.
This blog post covers 8 popular trees and shrubs that are favored by many species of wildlife, including deer, birds, squirrels, rabbits, and more!
1) When choosing trees and shrubs for your landscape, it’s important to consider which ones will be the most beneficial to local wildlife.
2) There are a number of trees and shrubs that are favored by local wildlife for food, shelter, and nesting.
3) The list of wildlife-preferred trees and shrubs include a number of popular ornamental species that will look great in your landscape
4) For example, the American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a large, deciduous tree that provides excellent food
5) Another popular species is the eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), which is a small,
deciduous tree that produces showy
6) Native shrubs also make excellent wildlife-preferred species.
7) For example, the blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) is a deciduous shrub with attractive flowers
8) There are many other trees and shrubs that can provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for local wildlife.
Choose Wisely
When choosing trees and shrubs for your landscape, one of the most important factors to consider is how beneficial or not they are to wildlife. A variety of trees and shrubs have been identified that provide good nutrition and cover for a wide range of species.
Some plants even support specific wildlife such as butterflies, birds, and certain mammals like deer and rabbits (and some we don’t want!). When choosing landscaping plants, we should always remember that it does more than just enhance our property; while providing beauty, it also provides habitat!
Other good choices include:
- Evergreens like pine, spruce, and cedar provide year-round cover for birds and other small animals.
- Deciduous trees like birch, maple, and oak have large leaves that can be used by a variety of species throughout the different seasons.
- Flowering trees like dogwood, magnolia, and Bradford pear which offer nectar to hungry insects.
Conclusion
Some of the best trees for wildlife are those that produce lots of fruit, such as apple, cherry, crabapple, fig, grapefruit, honeydew melon, orange, and pear. These trees not only provide food for birds but also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
