Wildlife-friendly trees offer varying silhouettes and year-round appeal.
1 Norway spruce
PICEA ABIES, ZONES 3 TO 8 This well-known spruce has a pyramidal shape with shiny dark green foliage. It prefers full sun and moist soil, but it does tolerate most garden soils. The aptly named weeping variety adds a rustic, organic element when draped over fences or walls, or when grown in a rock garden.
Why we love it:
For years, Norway spruce has been a favorite tree for large landscapes. But now many dwarf varieties are available, and they’re perfect for smaller-scale home gardens.
2 Common juniper
JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS,
ZONES 2 TO 6
If you’re in the market for a small-space evergreen, look no further than the dwarf varieties of common juniper. They need full sun, adjust to poor soil and require minimal maintenance once they are established. Some members of this species max out around 15 feet high.
Why we love it:
Common juniper serves as a secure roosting and nesting site for many bird species. Fruit-eating fliers like waxwings enjoy the berrylike cones in fall.
3 Bald cypress
TAXODIUM DISTICHUM, ZONES 4 TO 11
You’re likely to find large varieties of this tree (which is deciduous but bears cones) in the swamps of the eastern U.S. It needs full sun and acidic soil to thrive, growing best in moist, deep soil with good drainage. Slow-growing species include Secrest, which reaches just 6 feet.
Why we love it:
If you’ve got a soggy spot that collects water, this moisture-lover is the tree for you.
4 Mugo pine
PINUS MUGO, ZONES 2 TO 7
Denne historien er fra October/November 2018-utgaven av Birds & Bloom.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October/November 2018-utgaven av Birds & Bloom.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Basics of Hydroponics
Use these top tips and plant picks to have a successful soil-free garden
Rooted in Resilience
These hardy perennials will thrive in most zones
Social and Supportive
Brown-headed nuthatches take a helpful approach to raising their young
All About Owl Pellets
And why you should give a hoot about them
Ask the Experts
Advice from our pros about houseplants, bird feeding and more
BRING THE OUTDOORS IN
Making a terrarium is about as close as you can get to a Zen DIY project. Once you have gathered the proper materials and squared away your plant selections, it's as simple as layering it all together and watching your mini ecosystem thrive. Here, I'll walk you through my foolproof process and cover all the required elements for good filtration, healthy soil, strong root growth and resistance against fungus and disease.
GROW THIS. NOT THAT
Six easy-to-grow houseplants—and six that may not be the right choice for you
Winter MAGIC
Forecasts may be frigid, but grab your binoculars because birding opportunities are still incredible
Sense or Nonsense? - Why some birds can taste and smell - but others can't
Does a porcelain berry taste like a blueberry to a gray catbird? Does a block of lard smell like frying bacon to a northern flicker? The short answer is no. While some avian species do have a well-adapted sense of taste or smell, they can't distinguish between flavors and odors the way humans can. They're not picking up every ingredient in the suet you put out, says José Ramírez-Garofalo, an ornithology researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey and the director of Freshkills Biological Station in Staten Island, New York.
Maple Mania - Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
