IF you’ve ever had a run-in with berberis you’ll already know that they are thorny plants. But their prickly nature, as it turns out, is actually quite a good thing, and although you need gloves when pruning, those thorns have two distinct advantages.
First, they ensure that a berberis is a safe place for a bird to make a nest. Cats – not to mention magpies and jays – are too smart to risk trying to get into a berberis to prey on nestlings, and small birds can sneak in unharmed.
This story is from the September 21, 2019 edition of Amateur Gardening.
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This story is from the September 21, 2019 edition of Amateur Gardening.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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