1. S ince you are reading this,
you are probably concerned
Landscaping about the challenges facing
wildlife today. There are many
threats to species survival,
One Acre including loss of habitat from
development, the overuse of
pesticides, and formal
For Wildlife landscaping that offers little in
the way of cover or food for
birds and animals.
For more nature habitat information A Plant's Home
Visit these helpful websites: A Bird's Home Four Elements
A Homesteader's Home Wildlife has four essential
needs: food, water, cover, and
space. Evaluate your yard and
note which needs are already
being met, and which ones you
want to add.
A simple sketch of your
property will be very helpful. In
addition to existing structures
and natural features, make a
note of your soil conditions,
amount of sunlight, how much
rainfall you usually receive, the
direction of the prevailing winds,
and what climate zone you live
in.
Your local Cooperative
Extension Service can be very
helpful in obtaining this
information. Also take time to
think about your personal
interests. Do you want to
enhance a certain view. Take
If you are lucky enough
to have an acre of
land around your
home, how do you
begin to enhance your
property for wildlife.
© WindStar Wildlife Institute Page 1 A Plant's Home
2. photos. Have a play area for Some are low and can be Native grasses are also
children. walked on, like thyme (Thymus excellent choices for larger
vulgaris) or Corsican mint areas, providing food and cover
The plan’s selections rely (Mentha requienii). Others fill an as well as all-season interest.
heavily on “native" plants area with more texture and Our habitat plan includes
because experience has shown height, such as juniper panic grass (Panicum
that they are best-suited for (Juniperus horizontalis) and dichotomiflorum), but there are
the wildlife with which they have lavender (Lavandula many others including buffalo
evolved. These plants also tend angustifolia). grass (Buchloe dactyloides),
to be hardier and less
dependent on chemicals than
more exotic species.
However, there are also many One Acre Habitat Design
non-native choices which are
good for wildlife, and your final
landscape should reflect what
is pleasing to you.
Although they aren’t
commonly used by the average
person today, the Latin names
of plants are included to avoid
confusion. "Popular" names can
vary greatly for the same plant,
and you will have more success
researching and buying exactly
what you want if you can refer
to the scientific name.
For most people, “space"
brings to mind open areas,
frequently carpeted with green
lawn. While mowed grass can
make a pleasant frame around
a house, it is of little value to
wildlife and should be limited.
Less lawn will also mean less
dependence on herbicides and
less work and expense for you.
Groundcovers offer many
alternatives to traditional lawn,
and often work more effectively
on difficult sites. They can
supply benefits to wildlife and
visual interest to the
landscape.
© WindStar Wildlife Institute Page 2 A Plant's Home
3. little bluestem (Schizachyrium The willow oaks (Quercus phellos) fruit for wildlife. Other large
scoparium), blue grama and pin oak (Q. palustris) will trees with changing foliage and
(Bouteloua gracilis), and Indian produce acorns for a variety of food value are the sugar maple
ricegrass (Oryzopsis animals and fall color for you. (Acer saccharum), persimmon
humenoides). (Diospyros virginiana), and
The black gum (Nyssa hackberry (Celtis occidentalis).
The trees shown in our plan sylvatica) and sweet gum
were chosen for their value to (Liquidambar styraciflua) also
wildlife as well as their beauty. offer autumn color as well as Group Evergreens
Evergreen trees, especially
when planted in groups, provide
excellent winter cover for wildlife
and, when positioned correctly,
RECOMMENDED PLANTS
a windbreak for your property.
The seeds supply food for birds,
The following suggested plants are a very small sampling of
and evergreens add color and
possibilities. For additional suggestions, consult guidebooks, structure to the landscape
a nature center or extension service, local nurseries, or the after deciduous trees have lost
Internet. their leaves. Our plan has
stands of white pine (Pinus
GROUND COVERS strobus) and red cedar
Sedum spp.
Stonecrop .............................................. (Juniperus virginiana) along the
Dwarf spruce......................................... Picea pungens property line in several places.
Cotoneaster .......................................... horizontalis
C.
Periwinkle ................................................. spp.
Vinca As in nature, you will be most
Lily-of-the-Valley .................................. Convallaria majalis successful in attracting a
Sweet woodruff .................................... Galium odoratum variety of wildlife – and find
that the view is most pleasing
to the eye – if you concentrate
SHRUBS
Cornus racemosa on diversity. As you choose
Gray dogwood .......................................
plants, include a range of
Winterberry ............................................ verticillata
Ilex
Autumn olive..........................................Osmanthus americanus heights, shapes, bloom times,
Viburnum prunifolium
Blackhaw ................................................ seeds and fruits, evergreen and
Southern bayberry .............................. Myrica cerifera deciduous species. This will
Wild rose ................................................. plaustris
Rosa ensure that there are lots of
Raspberries and blackberries natural nesting sites plus food
and cover throughout the year.
FAVORITE FLOWERS FOR HUMMINGBIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES:
Lantana camara
Lantana .................................................. Food and Flowers
Cosmos sulphureus
Cosmos ................................................... With the intention of varying
Pentas lanciolata
Pentas ..................................................... heights, a number of smaller
Joe-Pye weed......................................... Eupatorium spp. trees are included in our sample
Purple coneflower ................................. Echinacea purpurea landscape. There are many
Butterfly weed ...................................... Asclepias tuberosa types of apples and crabapples
Butterfly bush ......................................Buddleia
from which to choose, all of
Cardinal flower ...................................... Lobelia cardinalis
which will give you lovely spring
Monarda didyma
Bee balm .................................................
flowers as well as fruit. Birds
Scarlet sage .........................................Salvia coccinea
will delight in the berries of
© WindStar Wildlife Institute Page 3 A Plant's Home
4. sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia If you devote part of that
virginiana), mulberry (Morus “A good hollow tree space to sunflowers
rubra), and mountain ash is almost worth its (Helianthus), you will delight
(Sorbus americana). weight in wildlife and birds of all kinds.
is a resource well
Shrubs create still other Black-eyed Susans
worth preserving."
levels in the landscape, and (Rudbeckia) and goldenrod
ours have been chosen primarily (Solidago) also have seedheads
– Roger Holmes
for the berries that they Natural Gardening that will attract feathered
produce. Some will persist into visitors to your yard.
winter to provide valuable cold-
weather food for wildlife. and movement that a meadow
provides. Set Up Feeding Station
Vines are another valuable When planning for birds, save
resource for berries, nectar, and Since wildflower meadows are space for feeders of different
nesting sites. Grapes are shown mowed only once a year, be sure kinds and place them at
covering an arbor, but if you that there are no zoning different heights. Black oil
have a fence, dead trees, or restrictions where you live. sunflower seed is the favorite
trellises you can attract all-around food, but there are
hummingbirds with coral Adding paths, fences, and other types of seed and
honeysuckle (Lonicera benches to the "wilder" part of nectars that are also popular.
sempervirens), yellow jasmine a landscape can make it look
(Gelsemium sempervirens), or more groomed and acceptable There are many field guides
cross vine (Bignonia to neighbors used to a available in your library or
capreolata). manicured yard. bookstore that can provide
information on the birds that
When it comes to flowers, the Growing your own vegetables you want to attract, as well as
choices are nearly limitless. is satisfying on many levels. other wildlife and the plants
Depending on the amount of There is joy in working a garden that grow in your backyard
time that you want to spend on that produces fresh food for habitat.
your garden, you can choose your family.
annuals, which die back in Many birds have specific
winter, or perennials which come nesting requirements, so nest
back every year. Many flowers "By paying more boxes should be built for a
are especially attractive to attention to how particular species and mounted
butterflies and hummingbirds, nature does things, we appropriately. With the decline
while others have seedheads can enrich our gardens in natural nesting cavities,
that will attract songbirds. with some of the grace these boxes are important.
and endurance of wild
Bluebirds in particular have
places while being
Try Wildflowers been brought back from a severe
kinder to the
One of the best ways to decline in numbers by the
attract a variety of wildlife is to
environment and less increase in man-made nest
plant a wildflower meadow, wasteful of nature’s boxes.
especially if you include native resources and our own
warm season grasses. There are efforts."
seed mixtures for every climate Dirt is Good
– Roger Holmes
zone, and you will be amazed by Natural Gardening Adding grit and dust areas
the changing picture of color nearby may not sound very
© WindStar Wildlife Institute Page 4 A Plant's Home
5. glamorous, but both elements Making room for a brush pile
are necessary for birds and will and a rock pile, as well as a
be appreciated. stack of logs, will provide cover
all year long for many small
Always be sure to provide a animals. You can keep these
tree within 5' to 15' of a house shelters at the edge of your
or feeder so that the birds can property, shielded by attractive
escape predators. To cut down vegetation.
on annoying flying insects, add
a bat house to your plan. These
flying mammals consume huge Must Have Water
numbers of mosquitoes. Water is necessary for all
wildlife, and there are many
Along one side of the plan ways to provide it.
are features that you might
not see in the typical suburban Birdbaths are easy and
yard, but which will definitely decorative accents, and
enhance the wildlife-friendly especially useful if they are
habitat. heated in winter when many
natural water sources are
More than 40 species of frozen.
birds and 20 kinds of animals
make use of dead trees Small ponds will attract a
(snags) which are becoming variety of creatures, and should
more and more scarce as have rocks and shallow spots
natural areas get developed. for resting and sunning safely.
Deeper parts of a pond allow
If you have some on your you to grow water plants.
property, leave them. If they Moving water, whether from a
represent a danger to people fountain or simple drip system,
or a building, move them to a is the most attractive to
safer location. wildlife.
This article was written by Maryland Master Wildlife Habitat Naturalist
Cathy Gilleland.
For more information or for the name of a Master Wildlife Habitat
Naturalist in your area, please contact:
WindStar Wildlife Institute
E-mail: wildlife@windstar.org
http://www.windstar.org
WindStar Wildlife Institute is a national, non-profit, conservation
organization whose mission is to help individuals and families establish or
improve the wildlife habitat on their properties.
© WindStar Wildlife Institute Page 5 A Plant's Home
