Designing Gardens For Birds & Butterflies

At Jordan Hrychuk Landscaping we receive numerous inquiries regarding butterfly and bird friendly gardens. When we design to attract wildlife we keep a few things in mind, such as where birds can nest, bathe, seek shelter and feed. Choosing the proper plants is vital to attracting wildlife and for that we always use native plant material or plants appropriate to our climate. This ensures a low maintenance and hardy landscape thats not only aesthetically appealing to people but the birds, butterflies and bees love it too. Its important that you source material from local nurseries to ensure all plants will thrive in our climate. For Barrie, Ontario we are hardiness zone 5b. We also like to use plants that self seed and provide great winter interest.

Native Plants: Here is a short list of native plants we use when designing a bird and butterfly friendly garden.

Trees- Serviceberry, dogwood, crabapple, cedar, spruce, mulberry, sugar maple, red oak

and many more.

Shrubs and perrenials- Staghorn sumac, elderberry, red osier dogwood (most species of dogwood), viburnum, holly, northern bush honeysuckle, witch hazel, ninebark, sandcherry, common raspberry, juniper, spirea, yew, Solomons seal, echinacea, milkweed, aster, rudbeckia, coreopsis, lupine and more.

Non native plants:

- sedum, phlox, day-lily, delphinium, lavender, gailardia, salvia, russian sage, hollyhock, butterfly bush, weigela, shasta daisy and many more.

- use natural and organic fertilizers such as compost tea, hen manure, seaweed

- use bird baths, bird houses and water features in designs

- arrange plants so they grow in dense form

- most gardens require full sun

If you are thinking about designing a garden to attract butterflies, bees and birds please contact Jordan Hrychuk Landscaping for a consultation. We would love to hear from you!