Birds and insects are increasingly having difficulty finding food. Every garden owner can help with insect and bird protection. A flowering natural hedge not only offers food, but also numerous nesting opportunities. We explain how to plant a wild hedge and which shrubs and trees are suitable.
Wild hedge plants: Which trees and shrubs are suitable?
Which native shrubs are suitable for a bird protection hedge? A wild hedge consists of trees that provide nesting opportunities and food. If possible, plants with different ripening times are combined. Ideally, the perennials, shrubs and trees should be planted as close together as possible. You can therefore follow the minimum requirements in terms of plant spacing depending on the species and variety.
Create wild shrub hedges: native shrubs for birds
- Die Kornelkirscheis perfect as a border tree (zone 3 of the wild hedge). Their flowers, which appear in spring, are considered an important source of food for bees. The berries that the bush produces in summer are edible for birds.
- The Red Dogwoodl has a sprawling habit and is also perfect for the edge zone of the natural hedge. The berries appear in August and September and are often eaten by robins and mistle thrushes.
- The wild blackberryis a bushy shrub that grows up to 3 meters high and wide. The bird food plant blooms from June to August and bears fruit from September to November. Interesting for blackbirds, thrushes, chaffinches, pheasants, robins and warblers. Other small garden animals also like to hide in the blackberry bushes from predators.
- The common spindle bushis perfect for bird protection hedges. Its fruits ripen in October and are an important source of food in late autumn.
Planting plan for a narrow bird protection hedge made from native shrubs
We offer you a planting plan for a bird protection hedge that consists of flowering and berry-bearing native shrubs. The plants require a sunny to partially shaded location.Plant the large shrubs(Hawthorn, viburnum) at a distance of 1.5 meters. You can plant the other trees in the ground at a distance of 70 m.
Double-row planting:The hawthorn and viburnum to the back and the toothed viburnum and holly to the front. For this arrangement you need a space measuring 8 x 3 meters.
Single row planting:Zone 1 consists of the hawthorn, zone 2 of the common viburnum, in zone 3 plant the toothed viburnum and the common holly. For this arrangement you need a space measuring 11 x 3 meters.
Wild hedge plants: Four bird food plants for the small garden
1. The invasive hawthorn (1 plant)is a tall shrub/low tree with compact growth that grows up to 5 meters high and 3 meters wide. The hawthorn is also hardy and can easily tolerate wind, snow and rain. The tree that feeds birds and insects is also ideal as a privacy screen and can easily be cut to size. The deep-rooted plant thrives best in a sunny to partially shaded areaspace in the garden.
2. The common viburnum (3 – 4 plants)is also a hardy shrub that is characterized by its upright and dense growth. The flat-rooted plant reaches a maximum height of 4 meters and grows up to 40 cm in height annually. Its flowers attract insects to the garden, and its berries, which it produces in autumn, are an important source of food for garden birds in the cold season. The plant is undemanding, but requires a little more space in the garden.
3. The Toothed Viburnum (3 plants)is an easy-care subshrub that has a compact growth. Its flowers produce pollen and nectar and are often visited by pollinating insects such as bees and bumblebees. The berries are for people andPets poisonous, but it is an important source of food for local birds in late autumn and winter.
4. The common holly (3 plants)is a frost-hardy deciduous plant that is perfect for the edge of natural hedges. The bird protection tree offers nesting opportunities for the birds during the breeding season. The heart root grows slowly and reaches a maximum height of 6 meters. The evergreen plant offers privacy and wind protection all year round. Its berries are poisonous to humans and animals, but edible to birds.
A wild hedge provides food and nesting opportunities for birds, butterflies and bees. It's not just the selection of plants that is very important for the final result. There are also a few things you should keep in mind when it comes to care. Fertilize the plants with organic fertilizer only when necessary. Under no circumstances should you treat the plants with pesticides and other chemicals. In winter time you can have oneFeeding place for local birdsHang them up so that they can find food even in the cold season.
