If you want to have a little more life in your garden this summer, then it’s important you know what to plant to attract birds and insects to your space – and how to keep them returning. Bird feeders and bird baths are great additions, but there are certain plants that birds love and will make your garden look fabulous too.
Garden design expert Calum Maddock at HomeHow.co.uk has shared his top tips on how to make your garden a safe and appealing place for birds all year round. By planting these six things you can ensure birds flock to your garden and keep returning all throughout the year.
Sunflowers
The first flower that’s beloved by birds is sunflowers. These easy to grow flowers are gorgeous and provide plenty of seeds for birds to nibble on, as well as providing a bright yellow pop of colour to your space.
Rowan
Rowan is another plant that birds love for its berries. Depending on which species you plant, rowans should bear berries from late July though to November – and crab apple trees are a great alternative.Blackbirds and starlings will love their fruit.
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is another great choice. As well as providing berries, honeysuckles are a great source of shelter for small birds like thrushes, warblers, and finches. They will also attract insects during the summer months which provides another great food source for birds.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn will also provide berries that blackbirds, redwings, and fieldfares love. Even better, the leaves will also attract caterpillars, which are an excellent food source for baby birds during spring.
English ivy
The English classic of ivy is also beloved by birds for the food and shelter it provides. The blackberries which appear in winter provide much-needed food for a range of birds, such as thrushes, starlings, jays, finches, and blackbirds.
Holly
Holly is a Christmas classic, and its berries are usually ripe by autumn, providing a great winter food source for song thrushes, blackbirds, and redwings. Just make sure that you plant a female plant and a male plant close together, as only the female produces berries, but the male is needed for pollination.