Worried about that growing list of backyard chores? You shouldn't be. If you do not rake the leaves or weed that corner, you may be providing ideal habitat for wildlife. A perfect lawn can be a food desert for wildlife. It's true that the most wildlife friendly yards are the ones that are a little messy. Keep reading to learn how your “lazy” gardening is great habitat design.

You Did Not Rake the Leaves From Last Fall

The layer of leaves under your trees is a five-star buffet for birds! Leaves that are decaying attract insects, worms, and spiders which birds like robins, wrens, and towhees love to eat. The leaves also provide a perfect material for nests. While you should keep your gutters clean to avoid water damage and fire risks, leaving the leaves in your yard is one of the best things you can do for your backyard ecosystems!

That Dead Tree Branch You Have Delayed

Snags, or bare tree branches, are excellent viewing stations for birds. They allow birds to survey their territory and watch for predators before making a visit to your feeders. Woodpeckers, as well as all other birds, enjoy dead trees because they are full of insects hiding under the bark.

The Dandelions Neighbors Judge You For

Dandelions are lovely buffet for finches and other birds who eat seeds and while lawns are sprayed chemicals, dandelions do not complain and provide food for birds.

Your garden hose has an annoying slow drip

Oh, a drip that you haven't fixed has made a water feature for your yard, and you didn't have to spend a cent! Stagnant water is boring, but the movement of flowing water is enticing to birds, and they'll visit your yard feature hundreds of times before they touch a still birdbath. Your annoying little puddle is an important drinking water resource for birds.

Spider Webs Can Be Found in Each Corner

Spider silks superstar construction materials, providing breathtakingly good properties that exceed that of steel in many ways. The next time you're thinking about clearing out those old cobwebs consider the fact that many hummingbirds & small songbird species use this silky material in their nest, and trust me, they have some very high-end building materials.

Your Lawn Has Bare Patches

Your patchy lawn is a free and essential hygiene service to wrens, sparrows, and other small birds. They take "dust baths" by rolling on the bare patches of soil and getting rid of parasites. They need to do this to maintain their feathers.

How To Properly Clean a Birdbath

The diseases Salmonella and Avian Pox can be contracted from contaminated bird baths, so it is important that we keep bird baths as clean and as safe as possible to protect the birds. A bird bath does not need to be clean enough to drink out of, but it shouldn't be filthy, either. You should change and scrub the bath using your stiff brush every two days. If you want to clean it better than with just scrubbing, make a cleaning solution of \frac{1}{9} \text{ } vinegar to water \text{ } and make sure to rinse it out afterwards. This way it is safe to protect the birds without going to use any more cautious medicine.

You forgot to deadhead the flowers

Your unpruned flowers are becoming their own self-serve bird feeder. The seed heads from cone flowers, black-eyed Susans, and zinnias are an energy rich treat for gold finches, chickadees, and titmice during fall and winter. Your “lazy” gardening is low effort bird feeding.

There Are Many Bugs in Your Compost Pile

A compost pile is a breeding ground for worms, beetles, and insects. These insects will attract protein-loving birds like wrens, robins, and thrushes. Birds will view your compost pile as their personal hunting ground.

The Native Vine is Taking Over Your Fence

The native vine you have been meaning to trim back is providing dense, life saving cover for birds. The highway that the thick foliage creates allows the birds to move through the yard without being seen by hawks. Virginia Creeper and other native vines produce berries that the birds rely on during the lean months (Just make sure it is a native vine because invasive ones like English Ivy can harm local ecosystems).

You have a pile of branches “Waiting for Yard Waste Day”

The brush pile you haven't yet taken to the curb has become a premium bird hotel! It offers protection from predators as well as harsh weather. Small songbirds now have a place to rest and use the pile as an emergency shelter during storms. Your "yard waste" is crucial real estate for birds!

A muddy area that doesn't dry out

Just because an area holds water, like your "drainage issue," doesn't mean it's a problem. It's actually a bird construction depot! Robins and swallows require mud to build their nests, and water at your site is a good mud source. The wet soil also brings earthworms closer to the surface which means an easy meal for birds. Your "problem area" is a resource, not a problem!

Common Inquiries

1. Isn't a "messy" yard going to attract pests such as mice and rats?

We understand your concerns, but they can be handled. The main reasonsRodents are attracted will be food sources such as fallen birdseed, pet food that has been left outdoors, or unsecured garbage. Leaf litter and brush piles will attract snakes, toads and beneficial insect wildlife. To avoid attracting rodents, store your birdseed in a chew-proof metal container , clean up seed spilled under the bird feeders, and keep your compost pile away from the house.

2. My HOA is very strict on clutter. How do I assist the birds?

Consider thinking within the parameters of laws and regulations, you can still build an amazing habitat. Consider the phrase “neatly wild.” Instead of an open messy brush pile, you could create a smaller one that is out of sight behind a shed or behind a decorative screen. Rather than going wild with your entire yard, consider putting in a well-manicured native, seed-bearing plant flower patch/coneflower and black-eyed Susan flower patch, and then putting in a small dripper. A clean and birdbath is also a clean and very effective way to attract birds.

3. Is it safe to leave dead branches on a tree?

If a dead branch or dead snag tree does not pose a threat to people, animals, or buildings, then it may be left alone. However, if a dead branch is overhanging a walkway, your driveway, or your house, then it needs to be cut off. Also, in cases where a tree is dead, and rests in a safe, open, and unobstructed area, it can be a remarkable feature for wildlife. When unsure, it is best to get in touch with a certified arborist. They can assist in safely shortening dead trees to create snags that are safe and good for birds.

4. What is the simplest, most effortless thing I could do to start assisting birds?

There are great options. First, consider “Leave the Leaves” in the fall. Rather than raking leaves to the curb, rake them into your garden beds. They will provide a free winter foraging area for birds, improve your soil, and serve as a natural mulch. Second, simply stop deadheading your flowers in late summer. Sunflowers and coneflowers make great natural feeders that will last for months with no effort. When you let those flowers go to seed, you’ll provide a great food source for birds.