Ohio
When creating a wildlife habitat, the combination of habitat elements (food, water, shelter, and places to raise young) that you provide should take into consideration the needs of the wildlife you wish to attract. Carefully selected plantings can provide food, shelter, and/or places to raise young. For example, plants that bear fruit in the late summer or fall are a good choice for fruit-eating birds, such as Cedar Waxwings, in the winter. Also, adding water to your landscape can increase the variety of birds that visit your backyard.
Landscaping for the ideal wildlife habitat should include plants ranging in size and density from small evergreen shrubs to tall, full-grown trees so that birds and other wildlife can choose the appropriate cover they need for feeding, hiding, courting, and nesting activities. For example, dense plantings of shrubbery provide safe areas for many species of wildlife to mate, build nests, and raise their families.
Plants native to the soils and climate of your area provide the best overall food sources for wildlife. In addition, native plants generally require less fertilizer, water and effort to control pests. Native plants may support 10 to 50 times more species of native wildlife (mostly insects, the basic wildlife food) than do exotics (plants that are not native to your area). Too often, exotics brought to our continent for their horticultural or wildlife value grow and spread rapidly, taking over farm and woodland and decimating native plants and animals.
Once you have decided to landscape your yard for wildlife, the next step is to develop a plan for your backyard. It's best to take an assessment of what you already have and then map out a landscaping plan that includes all the plants and natural features in your yard. Once you have completed your plan, you'll have a good idea of how to proceed with creating your wildlife habitat. Wild Birds Unlimited carries the National Wildlife Federation® Backyard Wildlife Habitat™ packets that help you plan and certify your yard as an official Backyard Habitat.
You can attract wildlife and increase its abundance on your property by planting specific plant species.
By increasing the number of plant species in your landscape, you can increase the ecological stability of your property.
Plantings help provide protection for wildlife from predators.
Landscaping presents an opportunity for you to save home heating and cooling costs.
Conifers (evergreens) on the north and west sides of your home can help reduce the cooling effect of harsh winds on your house while providing shelter for songbirds.
Deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves in the fall) planted on the south side of a home can shade the house in the summer reducing cooling costs. They can also provide food and nesting sites. And, since these trees lose their leaves, they allow the sun to shine on your home during cold days.
| Shrubs | Trees | Evergreens | Flowers/Perennials |
| Blueberry | Sassafras | White Pine | Wild Columbine |
| Coralberry | Serviceberry | Eastern Hemlock | Coral Bells |
| Huckleberry | Flowering Dogwood | Eastern Red Cedar | Fire Pink |
| Arrowwood Viburnum | Staghorn Sumac | White Spruce | Wild Bergamot |
| Winterberry Holly | Nannyberry | Red Pine | Blazing Star |
| Bayberry | American Beech | White Cedar | Butterfly Weed |
| Red Ozier Dogwood | Shagbark Hickory | Purple Coneflower | |
| Pfitzer Juniper | Northern Red Oak | Bee Balm | |
| White Oak | Carolina Jasmine | ||
| Sugar Maple | Rudbeckia | ||
| Blackgum | Yarrow |
Wild Birds Unlimited invites you to join the over 25,000 others throughout North America who have had their backyards certified by the National Wildlife Federation. You can certify your backyard by providing the four basic habitat elements; food, water, shelter, and places to raise young. Pick up a Backyard Wildlife Habitat packet at Wild Birds Unlimited for $28.99 (U.S. funds). The price includes the $15.00 certification fee.
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