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Wildscape – Thicket and Tangles
By Calvin R. Finch, Ph.D.
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| Their coverage provides both nesting sites during breeding season and protection from severe weather and predators in the winter. | |
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The most attractive landscape to the widest selection of birds is one that offers thickets and tangles. Their coverage provides both nesting sites during breeding season and protection from severe weather and predators in the winter.
A landscape with diverse plants, many of which grow together to form thickets, also provides food sources such as insects, seeds and berries for wintering birds like cardinals, American sparrows and towhees.
Those of you who have grass-dominated landscapes may possibly have less birdlife. You may want to compromise by dedicating thick hedges to entice the birds. Any plantings that provide cover at least 6 feet deep is significant. Examples of hedges include Chinese holly, its cousin Burford holly, yaupons, condalia, butterfly rose and members of the Viburnum family. To be a gracious host to birds, follow these helpful guidelines:
- Mix it up. A landscape with a mix of tall trees, short trees, large shrubs, small shrubs and groundcovers is the ideal mix to attract the largest selection of birds.
- The landscape with good habitat includes both deciduous and evergreen plants. Evergreen plants provide more shelter from the weather and predators but deciduous plants are often good nesting sites and/or provide important blooms, berries and nuts.
- Do a little light reading. There are a number of excellent resources to help you put together a bird-friendly landscape. One of my favorite books is "Attracting Birds to Southern Gardens" by Thomas Pope, Neil Odenwald, and Charles Fryling Jr. The SAWS Landscape Care Guide, which has a wildscape section, is available at area nurseries.
By incorporating thickets and tangles into your landscape, you're providing vital nesting space and protection for area birds while increasing your chances of seeing them in your neighborhood.
 Join the Conversation
How are you incorporating thickets and tangles into your landscape to attract birds? Let us know on Facebook.
Calvin R. Finch is the director of regional initiatives and special projects for San Antonio Water System.
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Last Digit
of Street
Address
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Watering
Day
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0 or 1 |
Monday |
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2 or 3 |
Tuesday |
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4 or 5 |
Wednesday |
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6 or 7 |
Thursday |
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8 or 9 |
Friday |
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No watering on weekends with a sprinkler, soaker hose or irrigation system. Areas without a street address, such as medians and neighborhood entryways, water on Wednesday.
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Watering with a sprinkler or irrigation system is allowed once a week before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. on your assigned day, as determined by your address.
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Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 |
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0 in.
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Bermuda (Full Sun)
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0 in.
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Buffalo (Full Sun)
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0 in.
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St. Augustine (Full Sun)
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0 in.
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St. Augustine (Shade)
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0 in.
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Zoysia (Full Sun)
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0 in.
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Zoysia (Shade)
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Remarks:
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With the wonderful rains we received last week and this week, there is no need to water. Most plants are dormant and need no supplemental watering. Donna Fossum, Conservation Planner.
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What are these strange holes in my cottonwood tree?
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Small holes that ring a tree are from woodpeckers and sapsuckers. These birds are looking for beetle larvae, commonly called borers, which infest a stressed tree. A bird may not kill a tree, but its pecking adds additional stress. Always correct the initial stress first.
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E-mail your question to GardenGeek@saws.org
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Huisache
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(Acacia farnesiana)
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Huisache tolerates the extremes of South Texas weather with a soft, breezy evergreen shade suitable for an accent or a sunny border. As in many mimosas and acacias, its needle-like thorns are abundant, especially on younger wood. With shaping, huisache can be trained to a lovely vase-like form. It boasts cascades of perfumed blooms in late winter.
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Turk's Cap
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(Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii)
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By January its leaves and branches have thinned to long green spindles, but even now Turk's Cap still blooms if the weather is mild enough. A close relative of hibiscus, it's called the "lazy mallow" because the turban-like flowers never fully open. The thin stems can be cut back in early spring.
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Landscaping
for Wildlife
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Feb. 11, 9 a.m.- Noon
San Antonio
Botanical Garden
555 Funston Place
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Learn how wildlife view your backyard as potential habitat, which plants offer food and shelter, and how to incorporate plants and water features into your design. A short hike through the Garden will be offered to see examples of bed shapes and design. Fee: $20.
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