The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-04-22, Page 48Cutting grass is for
If you are the owner of a home which has a
• large yard: you are fortunate indeed.
You may not think "fortunate" is quite the
right word though, as you push the lawn
mower once more across that green
expanse.
However, with a little planning arid some
.special plantings from your local nursery.
you will not only decrease the amount of
grass which seems to endlessly need cut-
ting, you'll attract birds -and perhaps
butterflies.
•:You must agree, sitting and watching
birds and butterflies beats grass cutting as a
backyard pastime" says Biologist Alan
Watson at the University. of Guelph's
Arboretum.
To help you in your pursuit of backyard
bliss, it is important to consider what
aspects of plants will`attract birds.
These include cover, food, and nesting
•
material. .
The cover can be `important from the
standpoint of safe places for birds to nest
(robins. and cardinals .will_ nest in thick
vines), to offering areas where birds can
roost at night -or escape the neighbor's cat. -
With respect to food, it is necessary to
plan to have fruits and. seeds becoming
available over a period of time, rather than
just in the fall.
_ For example,- serviceberry (Amelanchier
sp.) yields bird -attracting fruit in June;
raspberries (Rubus sp.) are ready in July
. and elderberries produce . fruit in late
August or early September.
that you are after; butterflies can be at-
tracted to your yard if you plant flowers
such as foxglov'e (Digitalis sp.).
Recently, to initiate a plan fora backyard
wildlife habitat collection at the University
of .Guelph's Arboretum. we held a design
competition.
The winner. Katherine Durister, has in-
cluded in her plan titled. "Gardens for All".
a number of plants. ranging from trees and
shrubs to herbaceous material which fulfill
the requirements of cover. food and nesting,
material. • .
Some of these include: Snowy Mountain
Ash I Sorbus•decora I; Red Jade Crabapple
Malus "Red Jade" 1: Elderberry 'Sam -
he birds
bucus canadensis i : Highbush Cranberry.
1 rburnuintrrkrbumNOT Viburnum opulus.
the European Highbush Cranberry: it has
fruit that is so sour. no self-respecting bird
will eo near it ] : Autumn Olive , Elaeagnus
umbellata is Hazelnut , Corylus
americana': Gray Dogwood • Cornus
racemosa 1: Red raspberry , Rubus
strigosus i the birds will share these with
you): Downy Serviceberry Amelanchier
laevisrand Staghorn Sumac 1 Rhust}phina �.
Use ground in shay areas
When planning your landscape...consider
using ground covers in those areas where
grass is difficult to grow — areas that are
heavily shaded or steeply sloped. .
"Ground covers are available in a variety
of colors - and textures and Many bear
flowers and fruit." says Horticulturist Anna
Ballantyne of the Ontario Ministry of
• Agriculture and Food's Consumer Informa-
tion Centre in Toronto.
When choosing a ground cover. keep in
mind the fact that many' ground covers re-
quire at least a season -and -a -half before
they become established.
During this initial period. it is important
to keep the area free of weeds by hoeing or
hand weeding.
For banks or sloping areas, choose plants
that grow close to the ground and rapt easi-
ly; the mat of roots that forms helps control
erosion 'along banks and sloping areas.
Ground covers perform best in fertile,
well -drained soil.
And since 'ground. covers are permanent
plantings, it is advisable to prepare the soil
, before planting.
Ground covers generally fall into three
categories: herbaceous perennials. annuals
and woody ground covers.
Examples of perennial ground covers
are: B'ugieweed 1 Ajuga reptans Crown
retch ('oronilla varia l. Candvtuft Ibens
sempt rvirens and Mosspink Phlox Phlox
subulata �.
Annual ground covers include: begonia.
impatiens. petunia, portulaca and sWe,et
alyssum. -
Some woody ground covers. are:
Bearberry 1 Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 1.
Skoghohn Cotoneaster i Cotoneaster darn-
meri "skogholm" , Bigleaf Wintercreeper
(Euonymus fortunes vegetus), English and
Baltic Ivy ( Hedera helix and H. Helix
baltica ), Juniper Glauca i Juniperus
horizontalis-var. "Glauca") and Periwinkle
(Vinca minor) .
This is only a partial list of the wide range
of ground covers that are available to the
homeowner. Check with your garden centre
for more information.
Page 21
These trees and shrubs are readily
available at most nurseries-1nd some. such
as theSumac. Crabapple and Mountain Ash.
will also add winter interest to your garden
with their colored fruit.
\'ou nicht have more success attracting
wildlife if you -can persuade your neighbors
to do some planting of their own.
..And that shouldn't be too difficult once
they see that you are spending less time cut-
ting your grass, and more time enjoying
your yard," Watson said.
Wait until they see your underplantings
heracous plants under the trees and
shrubs 1 of Cardinal Flower !Lobelia car-
drnalis i • the hummingbirds will be lining
up I: Borage i Borage officinalrs'. Globe
Thistle Echinopssphaerocephalus But-
terflyweed Asclepias tuberosa R: and Glory.
of the Snow Chinodoxa luciliae
To attract butterflies, you must include-
feod plants for their caterpillars: birch oak.
willow. ash. spice bush. wild grape. and
roses • res. you want some caterpillars on
your roses — the fruit of Rosa multiflora
also feed Mockingbirds and Thrushes 1.
Of course, many of the flowers in your
underplantings will providetnectar for these
larvae after they become adults.
Dunster's plan for the Aboretum's
Backyard Wildlife Habitat Demonstration is
on display at the J.C. Taylor Nature Centre
at the University of Guelph.
"We are hoping that a sponsor can be
found to implement her plan and thereby
allow people to see its award-winning \
features and apply them at home."
In the meantime, pick up a catalogue at
your local nursery, design an outline of your
yard and start on your own plans.
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