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Give feathered visitors a helping hand with these beautiful flowers and shrubs
With autumn on the horizon, natural food sources for birds start to become less abundant, making August an important month for creating a wildlife-friendly garden.
By planting species that offer seeds, berries, and shelter, you can encourage everything from finches and sparrows to blackbirds and robins to pay a visit.
Not sure where to start? Below, we reveal the best plants to grow in August to support birds, along with simple care tips to help them thrive.
Sunflowers are one of the most rewarding plants you can grow for wildlife, providing vibrant blooms throughout summer before becoming a valuable source of food.
'These provide a valuable food source later in the year and their seed heads are loved by finches, tits and sparrows,' says Dr Russell Sharp, founder of Eutrema. 'Even once the flowers have faded, the heads can be left standing so birds can feed naturally through late summer and into autumn.'
The flowers also add height and colour, making them useful for filling gaps in borders or adding interest to smaller spaces. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil and plant them where you can enjoy watching visiting birds from a window.
Alder is an excellent tree for wildlife, producing nutritious seeds that attract a wide variety of garden birds.
'The tiny cones produced by alder trees are full of seeds, which are high in energy and very popular with siskin, redpoll, greenfinch, and goldfinch,' explains Martin Chaplin, head of horticulture at Hedges Direct. 'In addition, they create a good structure for building nests.'
Alder thrives in moist soils and is particularly well suited to areas near ponds or damp parts of the garden. Young trees should be watered regularly during dry spells, and a layer of mulch around the base will help retain moisture.
Teasel is a favourite among seed-eating birds and also brings striking architectural interest to borders with its distinctive cone-shaped flower heads.
'Teasel plants produce a large amount of seeds within their cone-shaped heads,' says Richard Barker, horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture. 'These mature around August, making them a great food source for seed-eating birds.'
Additionally, the leaves of a teasel plant join around the stem to form small cups that collect rainwater, acting as an easily accessible water supply for birds in hot weather. It thrives in a sunny position and is easy to grow from seed.
Mahonia is a wonderful option in bird-friendly gardens as it provides food, while also supporting pollinators through winter.
'Few shrubs brighten up a gloomy garden like mahonia,’ says David Denyer, florist and gardening expert at Eflorist. 'As the flowers fade, clusters of blue-black berries develop, providing a nutritious food source for birds.'
With its spiky foliage and upright habit, mahonia also brings striking architectural interest to shady corners. This grows happily in partial shade and, once established, it requires little more than a light prune after flowering to keep it looking its best.
Rowan trees are among the earliest to provide ripening berries, making them particularly valuable as summer comes to an end.
'During August, the berries produced by rowan trees will begin to ripen as the other natural food sources for birds begin to drop,' explains Richard. 'The berries will turn orange, yellow or red by the end of August and are rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and fibre, acting as a vital energy source for birds.'
Find a sunny or lightly shaded position for them, and water young trees regularly during their first growing season. Applying mulch around the base will help retain moisture and suppress weeds while the tree establishes.
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