It is almost Spring…and I can’t wait! Well…actually, I can… a bit. I have SO much garden prep to do! I tend to pretty much ignore my garden in December and January. Now as the weather is warming (and here in Southern California that means going up to 70 from 60 haha), but not blazing hot yet, it is time to get out and do the grunt work to prepare the garden for the Spring flowers and Summer Vegetables. But before I spend the rest of my day weeding and pulling out the remaining of the Fall/ Winter veggies, I wanted to invite some birds to join me.

Birds can be SO beneficial to your garden. Not only are they fun to look at, but they are seriously helpful with some basic garden maintenance.

• Birds help control insects- They eat a variety of aphids, mosquitos, caterpillars, grasshoppers and other bugs that can seriously destroy your plants
• Help pollination – Certain species are fantastic at helping pollinate your flowers which means more blooms!
• Help eat the weed seeds. Some varieties such as Finches are fantastic at consuming the seeds of those pesky weed plants before they have an opportunity to spread.

Ways to attract birds to your yard or garden

There are a few sure ways to make your outdoor space a place that birds will visit.

• Bird Bath- Birds love fresh water. We have a small one in our yard, but tend to keep it empty in the summer months. Ours does not circulate water so the sitting water tends to also attract mosquitos. So, if you chose to have a water source for the birds I recommend one that has a fountain to keep the water moving or make sure to empty the water regularly.
• Plant sections of flowers (preferably a little away from your veggies…birds can be a problem for your prized fruits- Consider bird netting or hanging something sparkly around your veggies to deter the birds from eating your food.)
• Hang Bird Feeders- There are a ton of options in this category. Depending on the layout of your garden or where you would like to place the feeder, you can go with a refillable one or ornaments, such as the birdseed eggs I make and use

Birds are a natural part of gardening, but some avid gardeners work hard to keep them out (there are definitely a lot of products available to help with this!). I think it is all about balance.

I’d love to hear how you welcome (or deter) birds in your garden!