Trying to attack the whole project at once is a sure way to become discouraged and make expensive mistakes. Take some time to study your property, think about what wildlife you want to attract, and what personal interests you want to nurture.

1. T rying to attack the whole
project at once is a sure way
to become discouraged and
Landscaping a Small make expensive mistakes. Take
some time to study your
property, think about what
Yard For Wildlife wildlife you want to attract,
and what personal interests
you want to nurture.
For more nature habitat information Find out where your property
Visit these helpful websites: lies on the USDA Hardiness
Zone maps printed in most
A Plant's Home plant catalogues, or available
A Bird's Home
A Homesteader's Home through your county
Cooperative Extension Service
office. What kind of soil do you
have, how much sun reaches
your yard, what amount of rain
falls in your area, and what
structures are alreaady in
place.
Native Is Best
A word about “native" plants.
Wildlife evolved with plants
through the centuries, so a lot
of native vegetation is uniquely
suited to meet the needs of
specific wildlife. In addition,
native plants tend to thrive in
their natural habitat, be less
prone to disease, and less in
need of chemical treatments.
WindStar Wildlife Institute
emphasizes the merits of
native plants, but we realize
that there are sometimes other
considerations. Although
nurseries are beginning to carry
more native plants, they can be
hard to locate for purchase.
Perhaps you’ve purchased a home which enjoys
only a traditional mowed lawn and clipped Those that flower may not be
as “flashy" as some of the
evergreens. It looks nice enough, but you’re developed cultivars. They may
interested in gardening, feeding the birds, and not bloom for as long a time, or
making your yard a welcome spot for a variety of may have an unstructured
growth habit. Some “exotics"
wildlife. Where do you start. (plants which originated in
other parts of the world) are
© WindStar Wildlife Institute Page 1 A Plant's Home

2. bound to appeal to you, and color, or the consistency of Spruce is a Favorite
many will also appeal to wildlife. evergreens. Birds and small mammals love
the spruce for food, nesting,
For example, birds love the In our 1/4-acre plan, the and winter shelter, especially if
berries of Japanese holly, and lower right corner shows a the branches are allowed to
butterflies can’t resist the windbreak of Colorado blue grow to the ground. If
nectar of the Oriental butterfly spruce. Used properly, an positioned correctly (usually to
bush. Just be careful not to evergreen windbreak can fulfill the north), they will indeed
introduce exotic plants which many functions. It will screen break the path of the wind and
are invasive and have a off an undesirable view and/or keep your home warmer in
tendency to crowd out the give you privacy throughout winter. For visual interest, it’s
natives. the year. especially nice to combine
1/4 Acre Plan
This brochure contains a 1/4 Acre Habitat Design
wildlife-friendly, landscape
design for a 1/4-acre yard. It will
give you a starting point, but
you are encouraged to adapt it
to your own vision. As we go
through the various elements of
the plan, we’ll point out why
each is important, and consider
alternatives that can fill the
same purpose. We have chosen
primarily native plants. A trip to
your local library or plant
nursery will provide many more
suggestions.
When you are ready to choose
your plants, it’s often best to
start with trees. Their cost will
vary according to their size at
the time of purchase. Once
they’re in place, you don’t want
to have to move them, so think
carefully before getting out the
shovel.
Is the tree appropriate for the
soil conditions and amount of
sunlight. Have you planned for
it’s mature size. Will it crowd
your house or other trees, or
eventually shade that spot
where you had hoped to put a
flower garden. Is it evergreen or
deciduous (losing its leaves in
the fall), and how will that
affect whatever is nearby. Are
you interested in flowers, fall
© WindStar Wildlife Institute Page 2 A Plant's Home

3. evergreens of various heights, Crab Apple Best For Wildlife berries. The maple produces
colors, and textures. Don’t limit Most native trees, such as seeds that are eaten by several
yourself to pines and other the crab apple at the top of the species, and turns striking
conifers. There are a number of yard, bear fruit that is more colors in the fall. Since both are
broadleaf evergreens that are suitable for wildlife than for deciduous, they will shade the
worth including in your plan. human consumption. The willow house in the heat of the
oak, also in the upper section, is summer, but not block the
Along the lower left side of an oak, not a willow. Many warming sun in the winter. Once
the drawing are three peach species of wildlife enjoy nut again, think about the mature
trees. Fruit trees benefit both trees, and acorns are a special size and whether or not any
people and wildlife, and you can favorite. Be sure to consider tree will block a favorite view
choose from a wide range of the mature size of any nut tree, from the house.
heights and types of fruit. Also and be careful about planting
consider the color of the black walnuts because they The flower gardens don’t have
flowers, whether or not the fruit release a substance that is specific plants indicated, but
will be eaten or just decorative, toxic to many other plants. there are many selections that
the need for chemical will appeal to both butterflies
treatments, the length of time The sugar maple and dogwood and hummingbirds. Choose a
it will take to bear fruit, and in the central part of the yard color scheme that appeals to
whether it needs another of the are both versatile. The dogwood you and group plants to create
same species nearby to ensure has lovely spring blossoms, and blocks of color.
fertilization. birds will feast on its autumn
Some suggestions for this
area include:
s Lantana (Lantana camara)
Recommended Deciduous Trees and Shrubs
s Pentas (Pentas lanciolata)
s Cosmos
Name Scientific Name Height Benefits For Wildlife (Cosmos sulphureus)
American Holly Ilex opaca 40' Red berries; slow growing Joe-Pye weed
s
(Eupatorium spp.)
Bayberry Myrica pensylvanica 8-10' Berries (male and female)
s Purple coneflower
Creeping Holly Grape Mahonia repens 2-3' Berries (Echinacea purpurea)
Eastern Hemlock Tsuga canadensis 40-70' s New England aster
(Aster spp.)
Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana 30-50' Blue berries
s Black-eyed Susan
(Rudbeckia spp.)
Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus 80' Seeds, sap, cover; fast growing
s Butterfly weed
Juniper Juniperus Short Many varieties (Asclepias tuberosa)
Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia 7-15' Nectar s Butterfly bush (Buddleia)
Oregon Grape Mahonia aquifolium 6-8' Blue berries s Buttonbush
(Dephalanthus occidentalis)
Wax Myrtle Myrica cerifera 5-20' Berries (male and female)
s Cardinal flower
(Lobelia cardinalis)
© WindStar Wildlife Institute Page 3 A Plant's Home

4. s Bee balm (Monarda didyma) of lawn near the house, but it for all wildlife. You may not have
offers little for wildlife, requires room for a pond, but a birdbath
s Scarlet Sage effort and money to maintain, or fountain will see lots of
(Salvia coccinea) wastes water, and encourages activity. It should be kept clean
the use of polluting chemicals. and be placed within 5' of a tree
There are many kinds of or shrub to allow escape from
shrubs illustrated throughout Less lawn is better for both predators.
the yard, and variety is one of you and the environment. For a
the most important low-growing alternative to Benches and paths through
considerations when grass, consider the many kinds the garden let you wander and
landscaping for wildlife. of ground covers available, such rest to enjoy your creation.
as cotoneaster and creeping
By offering a wide selection junipers. If you have corners The WindStar Wildlife
of flowers, fruits, and heights that can be left taller, many Institute publication, How To
of plants, you will appeal to native grasses provide shelter Create A Wildlife Habitat Plan
the greatest number of and seeds for birds. For Your Property offers a
different species. step-by-step guide. Some other
Man-made structures can titles in this series which might
Fruiting shrubs near the add decorative accents to the be of help to you include:
windbreak include inkberry (Ilex garden and at the same time
glabra), bayberry (Myrica contribute to your wildlife s Butterfly Gardening;
pensylvanica), rugosa rose habitat. In this design, trellises,
(Rosa rugosa), and blueberry s Landscaping for Birds;
arbors, and lattice screens
(Vaccinium corymbosum). All of support vines which bear Essential Elements of a
s
these are native and favorites flowers for nectar, berries for Wildlife Habitat;
of birds and other small wildlife. birds, or provide nesting sites.
s Homes for Backyard Birds;
Some are duplicated in the Bittersweet (Celastrus
upper planting areas, along with orbiculata, an exotic that may s Creating a Wildflower
shrubs planted for their nectar, become invasive), climbing rose, Meadow; and
including spicebush (Lindera clematis (native version is
benzoin) and sweet pepperbush ligusticifolia), and trumpet s Creating a Wildlife Habitat
(Clethra alnifolia). The creeper (Bignonia capreolata)
Plan.
spicebush has berries for birds, are shown in the plan. Other
and the white flowers of the choices include Virginia creeper This article was written by
sweet pepperbush will attract (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Maryland Master Wildlife Habitat
butterflies. The red twig yellow jasmine (Gelsemium Naturalist Cathy Gilleland.
dogwood (Cornus siberica), while sempervirens), coral For more information or for the
not native, provides wonderful honeysuckle (Lonicera name of a Master Wildlife Habitat
red color in winter and birds sempervirens), and grapes. Naturalist in your area, please
enjoy its autumn berries. contact:
Nesting boxes placed around WindStar Wildlife Institute
the property will encourage
Group Plantings birds to raise families in your E-mail: wildlife@windstar.org
To Increase Appeal habitat. Additions like a dust http://www.windstar.org
In most cases, groupings of and grit area for birds or a mud
trees and plants will be more puddle for butterflies may not
pleasing to the eye and more sound charming to humans, but WindStar Wildlife Institute is a
appealing to wildlife than the wildlife will come in even national, non-profit, conservation
individual specimens standing greater numbers. organization whose mission is to
alone in a sea of lawn. Mowed help individuals and families
grass is nice for people, and you establish or improve the wildlife
Feeders are an obvious habitat on their properties.
may want to maintain an area addition, and water is essential
© WindStar Wildlife Institute Page 4 A Plant's Home