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Planting a Backyard for Wildlife -- Part 1 of 4

© Kenneth Friedman

Spring is springing up all over in the eastern U.S. and a lot of people have been eyeing their backyards and thinking, "Where am I going to plant those 4,000 seeds I just started?" A few people, maybe six, are thinking about planting their backyards to encourage visits by wildlife. To those six I say, don't hire an expert, I'll tell you what to do for free-and you may live to regret taking my advice.

Warning: If you live in an area where Lyme Disease is present, you may want to avoid planting for backyard wildlife and stick with a manicured lawn. Planting for wildlife can create conditions suitable for ticks, a headache you do not want.

First, the good news. If your property already has trees and shrubs, you may not have to plant anything. But you might need to supplement what you have, so read on and pick the information that suits your needs. The other bit of good news is that there is a lot more you can do besides plant trees, shrubs and flowers, most of it costs almost nothing and I'll cover this in another article.

So what kind of wildlife visits me after I planted for wildlife 20 years ago? I live on a 3/4-acre property in the burbs. If I walk out to my backyard and look to the right, there is about a one-acre open lot with a few apple trees and conifers on it just beyond my tree line (which I planted). A 3- or 4-acre cemetary lies just beyond that lot, although I can't see it. To the left of my backyard is a monster lawn (15-20-30 acres at least) on which a church occupies only a small part. Only two houses sit directly behind my lot and there's a good deal of space between our houses. We bought our house specifically because of this prime backyard situation--we feel like we're in the country. Look out the front of the house, however, and you see lots of houses called "a development"--single family colonial and split level houses with manicured lawns. I am known as the guy who doesn't mow often enough.

Wildlife Guests
Just about all the wildlife native to our area (wanted and unwanted, expected or and unexpected) visit our backyard: deer, opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, skunks, hawks, a pair of owls (Feb.) all kinds of small birds, butterflies, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, voles, moles, rabbits, ducks (they like the swimming pool when the winter cover is on it and it is filled with rainwater), frogs, dragonflies and less interesting insects of all kinds.

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