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Wednesday, June 15, 2005
A bird lover’s garden
IF MY neighbours were ever to stop and wonder why our piece of family garden attracts more birds than theirs, then the answer would soon become clear as daylight.
Food, water and safety are the answer, and it is no accident that these have been provided for the wild-birds of the area. Whilst many can boast at having a number of interesting winged visitors and territorial residents throughout the year, my small plot (for the reasons outlined) seems to attract a greater variety of seed eaters such as green, and gold finches, tits, robins, redwings and even waxwings.
Our back garden differs in a number of important ways from our neighbours, chief among these being the two small pools, a prized collection of leafy evergreens, no domestic animals, and ample wall plants such as ivy and cotoneaster both of which offer a bonus of berries. Providing all of the these essentials (food, water, and safety during the year, but especially in winter) means that we are never without a wonderful and interesting variety of winged creatures living, feeding, mating, and defending, only yards from the kitchen window.
Pools will naturally provide ample drinking and bathing facilities, (especially in the shallow section) and in summer the birds feed on juice-laden creatures such as dragon fly and lacewings plus the varied insects which either swim on the pool surface or hover just above. Lawns add further interest for here they will delight in grubbing up undesirables such as leather jackets and wire worms. In borders surrounding the lawn one might be in the habit of growing sunflowers, forget-me-nots, Michaelmas daisies, ornamental thistles and seed-filled teasels. On these, the smaller birds (especially) will feed voraciously and come to no harm. Bigger birds such as blackbirds, thrushes, fieldfares, and hordes of starlings will fight for the berries of such easy shrubs as holly, rowan, berberis, cotoneaster, pyracantha, viburnum opulus, hawthorn and snowberry as the year progresses.
For many people, feeding the birds is just a matter of throwing out bread every morning and letting them get on with it. This can be a lifeline, but if you stop and think about it, greenfinches differ from blackbirds even more than cows from sheep, and the needs of one are vastly different from those of another. What I’m saying in effect is that some attempt should be made at providing variety (seed and grains for seedeaters, as well as suet and fat for all, plus grated cheese, nuts, etc) and not just breadcrumbs or tablecloth scraps, vital as these are. Making your garden at least as bird-attractive as your neighbours means that all species will be catered for and in the process allow each species go from strength to strength.
Timely Reminder
WATCH NOW for signs of the capsid bug, and if you grow dahlias, fuchsias and chrysanthemums, then be doubly alert for this garden pest first attacks the growing point and this leads to blindness. By this I mean that flowers in the tip portion seldom progress following an attack and instead of opening in the manner of their habit, they fade and drop without developing. The leaves will look ‘puckered’ and ragged at the tips and the only way to avoid such damage is to spray with a systemic insecticide before the end of this month.
Topical Tip
THE TALL bearded iris are very much back in fashion and as they have now finished flowering a point should be made of increasing their numbers especially if their positions have become crowded and overgrown. One should lift, divide and replant all in one operation for then the chances of failure are very much reduced. Select firm young pieces of rhizome (each with some roots and leaves attached) and discard the older, woody bits which will be aged and tired looking. Each new portion should have its strap-like leaves cut back to about nine inches in length (this prevents wind rock and subsequent loosening in the ground) before being planted shallowly in ground that has been enriched with humus-forming materials.With planting completed, the top of the rhizome should show just above the soil.
Q. I have had a Christmas poinsettia for the past ten years. It flowers every year without any attention except water. At the moment it is flowering again and I’m wondering if this is unusual.
A. What can I say except congratulations and well done! In the wilds of South America this euphorbia (it really is a euphorbia) grows to thirty and more feet. Here at home, most lose theirs long before January fades to February. Don’t change a thing, your doing great.
Q. I’m afraid I was more than heavyhanded when applying a lawn food in recent weeks and as a result, there are a few burned patches on the lawn. These are completely black and no green is evident. What can I do to save the situation?
A. This unfortunate occurrence is fairly common but the position is not entirely lost. Clear the burned patch of scorched foliage or other material then scratch the soil surface with a sharp object (trowel or knife). Shake a fist-full of grass seed over the area and in under ten days it will be up and taking root. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
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