Summer Gardening Tips for a Bird-Friendly Backyard
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Ah, summer. Melted ice cream, sunscreen on repeat, and prime time to turn your yard into a bird-friendly oasis.
Some folks look at a lawn and see the perfect Slip 'N Slide track, while a bird looks at that same stretch of grass and sees nothing but hot real estate. (The two aren't mutually exclusive, by the way.)
Planting a diverse habitat with a variety of bird-friendly plants gives you a much better shot at attracting birds to your home.
And with habitat loss on the rise, your backyard can become a much-needed sanctuary for birds that just need a little R&R. Rest and roost, that is.
Planning your bird-friendly garden
Think of yourself as a landscape architect for the avian elite. Sure, you want the space to look good, but it also has to be safe and practical, and it has to give birds every resource they need.
Photo: Jaymi Heimbuch
1. Keep the "pantry" stocked
Food is the number one way to get birds through your garden gate. What's on the menu? Insects, seeds, berries, and nectar, so plant a mix of native trees, shrubs, and flowering plants that provide those foods.
A diverse native landscape supports every kind of wildlife with food and shelter all year long, through the heat of summer and on into the colder months when the winter birds show up.
Native plants are also adapted to your local climate. That means less water and less maintenance for you.
Add bird feeders to supplement the plants and you've got the meal bases covered. Just skip the bird version of the gas station snacks we end up eating on our own summer road trips. Serve something nutritious and delicious instead.
And the serving platters? A few feeder types worth a look:
- Platform feeders work well for larger birds like cardinals and jays. I love this recycled plastic platform feeder from Kingsyard.
- Tube feeders suit small finches and chickadees. Fill them with black oil sunflower seeds or nyjer. Check out this Squirrel Buster feeder, which holds 2.4 lbs of seed.
- For hummingbird feeders, skip the red dye. A simple mix of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water does the trick. Go basic or class it up a bit (I can't help loving pretty things), and this hand-blown glass hummingbird feeder is, dare I say, quite pretty.
- Suet feeders are best saved for cooler mornings. Melty suet in July? Eww. This Kingsyard option lets you feed two birds with one feeder. (Yes, it'll feed more than two birds. I'm leaning on wordplay to say it's both a platform feeder and a suet feeder. Massive eye roll, fair enough.)
- A bird feeder camera captures all the excitement of chow time. Wherever you are, you can check who's hanging out for a snack at your place.
Pro tip: blooms from June through August
Plant a mix that flowers all summer long, so the snacks keep coming from June through August. Birds love variety. Think of your garden as a seasonal tasting menu.
Photo: Tony Quinn / Shutterstock
2. Bring in the water
Summer is hot. Birds, like the rest of us, need to cool down.
A bird bath or other water feature can make your yard feel like a luxury spa resort. Birds will flock to it to drink and bathe, and to splash around, preen, and show off.
Sure, the concrete bowl from the garden center works fine. But why stop there? Birds love moving water, and the sound of it tends to pull them in, so consider a bird bath dripper or even a bird bath waterfall(!) for that spa-like atmosphere.
- Shallow is better. Birds don't need the deep end of the swimming pool, so keep the water about 1 to 2 inches deep.
- Layer in flat stones or pebbles so birds have a place to perch. Tiny warblers need a break, too!
- Standing water is a mosquito breeding ground, so scrub your birdbath every few days to keep it fresh. You can also set up a Water Wiggler to keep mosquitoes from laying eggs.
Pro tip: fountains and ponds
Feeling fancy? Add a bird bath fountain or even build a small backyard pond.
Going with a pond? Keep the water circulating.
3. Build a bird neighborhood
Some birds stop by your garden for a quick bite, but others are scouting for prime nesting spots or just want a safe, cozy place to take a load off for a bit.
Offer a variety of nesting and shelter options and your backyard turns into a thriving bird neighborhood.
Nest boxes are the suburban dream homes for a lot of birds. Slap up a generic birdhouse, though, and you might not get the tenants you were hoping for. Birds are picky, and for good reason. Three things matter most to them:
- Different birds need different-sized entrance holes. Go too big and you invite unwanted guests (I'm looking at you, squirrels and starlings).
- Mount nest boxes 5 to 10 feet off the ground. Bluebirds prefer open fields, while wrens and chickadees like boxes near shrubs or wooded areas.
- Ventilation and drainage count, too: small openings near the top for airflow and at the bottom for drainage. No one wants a muggy, damp house.
Pro tip: skip the perch
Skip the perch! It might look cute, but a perch makes it easier for predators to raid the nest. Most birds don't need one anyway.
There are loads of great birdhouse options out there. I'm pretty into this stylish birdhouse made from recycled milk jugs.
Photo: Jaymi Heimbuch
4. Leave the bugs alone
I know bugs aren't exactly on your summer picnic guest list. But to insect-eating birds? Bugs are the main course.
Insects provide essential protein, especially for baby birds. Without them, those adorable fledglings won't have the energy to learn how to fly!
So before you reach for the bug spray, take a breath and let nature handle it, because birds like warblers and flycatchers are expert pest control agents that will gladly snack on beetles, caterpillars, and mosquitoes for you.
- Let one corner of your yard grow wild with native grasses and flowering weeds. Bugs will flock there, and so will the birds.
- Skip the chemicals. Pesticides harm insects and poison the food chain, so stick to organic methods if you absolutely have to treat something.
- Milkweed, goldenrod, and sunflowers attract the kinds of bugs birds want to eat. Just make sure the variety you pick is a native species suited to your area.
Bugs bring birds. It's a win-win, unless you're a caterpillar.
Pro tip: save the grass clippings
Got leftover grass clippings? Pile them near the wild corner of your yard. Insects love burrowing into soft, organic material, and birds love picking through it for snacks.
5. Let there be shade
Summer heat is tough on you, and birds feel it too. When the sun's blazing, they need shady spots to cool down. Give them the right cover and your yard becomes their retreat, a place where they'll stick around even when temperatures soar.
So instead of leaving an open, exposed lawn, plant a mix of trees, shrubs, and tall grasses that stack up layers of shade and protection. Those natural hideaways give birds a break from the heat and a safe place to raise their young.
- Tall trees give birds a safe spot to post up. Water and care for the trees you already have, especially in summer, when drought can take a deadly toll, and plant new ones wherever there's space. A Treegator watering bag can help keep trees hydrated.
- Dense shrubs give smaller birds, like sparrows and wrens, a place to hide and forage. Bonus: shrubs with berries provide both food and shelter.
- Native grasses and wildflowers make cool, low-to-the-ground hiding spots for ground-feeding birds and their chicks.
Pro tip: shade the birdbath
Cluster a few large plants around your birdbath. Even potted plants work. You get instant shade, and skittish birds get a quick place to hide while they drink or bathe. Think poolside cabanas for the avian crowd!
Photo: Shelagh Duffett / Shutterstock
6. Minimize hazards
Food, water, and shelter cover a lot. A bird-friendly garden also has to be safe, though, and birds face plenty of hazards, from pesticides to predators. It's on us to cut those risks down.
First, ditch the pesticides. Yes, again. These chemicals can harm birds and other wildlife along with the pests. Try natural pest control instead, like attracting beneficial insects or using physical barriers.
Next, do a safety sweep of your garden. Remove any sharp objects or loose wires that could injure birds.
Mirrors, windows, and other reflective surfaces can confuse birds and lead to collisions, so consider using decals or screens to make those surfaces more visible to them.
To fortify the feathered fortresses:
- Add metal baffles to feeder and nest box poles. Squirrels and raccoons, foiled.
- Mount nest boxes 6 to 10 feet off the ground. No low-hanging fruit for predators.
- Plant dense, thorny shrubs around nesting areas.
- Trim back branches near feeders and birdhouses to take away launch points.
- Use nest boxes with small holes to keep bigger intruders out.
Pro tip: lean on thorny plants
Hang feeders or birdhouses near thorny plants. Birds can weave through the thorns. Predators? Not so much.
A note on cats
I love cats. Do birds? Not so much.
Domestic cats kill birds, and even the chillest feline can turn into a backyard assassin when a bird flutters by. Your fluffy baby may be a sweet cuddle muffin to you, but to birds they're a serious danger, and once you add raccoons and snakes to the mix, your bird haven can suddenly become a dangerous place.
The simplest way to protect backyard birds is to keep your cat indoors. It might feel a little unfair. It's also the best way to prevent unwanted hunting sprees.
Cat insists on outdoor time? Build a catio, an enclosed outdoor space that lets cats enjoy the fresh air without threatening wildlife. If you'd rather skip the DIY, supervised, leashed outdoor time works too.
A watchful eye (and maybe a spray bottle) keeps your cat from turning the yard into a hunting ground. The birds will thank you, even if your cat gives you side-eye.
Photo: Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH / Shutterstock
7. Maintaining your bird-friendly yard
Keeping a yard bird friendly is a year-round commitment, but it doesn't have to be a chore. A little seasonal care keeps your garden a haven for birds all year.
- Spring: Plant native flowers, shrubs, and trees that will provide food and habitat for birds. Clean and maintain your feeders and bird baths so they're ready for the influx of spring migrants.
- Summer: Keep your bird baths filled with fresh water and clean them regularly to prevent algae buildup. Maintain your feeders and offer a variety of food sources to keep your visitors well fed.
- Fall: Plant native grasses and flowers that will provide seeds and habitat for birds. Clean and maintain your feeders and bird baths to prepare for the winter months.
- Winter: Put out high-energy foods like suet and seeds to help birds survive the cold. Keep your feeders clean and well stocked, and keep your bird baths free of ice.
And finally, enjoy your hard work
Supporting bird populations is a big deal. It helps birds thrive, and it builds environmental stewardship and learning opportunities for all of us. Children! Adults! Even surly teens!
Summer birdwatching from your own backyard is one of life's simple pleasures. Keep a pair of binoculars and your birding journal at the ready, so you're always prepared to watch the garden birds you worked so hard to welcome home.
That backyard haven gives local wildlife real support. It also turns your garden into a buzzing, chirping, thriving retreat.
So grab your gardening gloves, plant those flowers, fill those feeders, and let the birds know that summer at your place is open for business!
Free tool from Better With Birds: Try my Plants for Birds planner to get a ZIP-specific native plant list filtered to the birds you want. No email, no ads.
From the BWB shop, for the backyard birder
For the foundation of a bird-friendly yard, start with the best native plants for birds.
