The Ornamental Shrub That Can House & Feed The Birds In Your Yard All Winter Long

Not all birds fly south for the winter, and those that decide to stay behind can often benefit from a human helping hand. From resident species that you can spot year-round to birds flocking to your region from even colder areas, there are a variety of birds that you can see in your yard during the winter. And, if you want to attract more birds to your garden during this time, the process is similar to that during the warmer months: offer survival essentials like food, water, and shelter. Fortunately, with this eye-catching ornamental shrub, you can cross two of those needs off the list.

Viburnums (Viburnum spp.) bloom during the spring and summer, offering an array of pink and white blooms. However, even when the days of their showy flowers are long gone, these shrubs can still be a beneficial addition to your yard. This is because many species are evergreen. Plus, once their flowers do fade, it's to welcome wildlife-friendly berries that your backyard birds can enjoy. As a result, while just a typical ornamental shrub at first glance, viburnum can be the perfect way to provide local birds with shelter and food.

If you want to grow viburnums in your yard as a bird-friendly plant, you'll be glad to learn that these shrubs are easy to grow, making them a perfect plant for beginner gardeners. However, before planting viburnums for winter birds, it's important to learn how to care for and grow viburnum shrubs for optimal results.

The first step to growing viburnums to help out wintering birds is ensuring you live in an area where they can actually grow. This means paying attention to their hardiness zones. With so many different species of viburnum, hardiness may vary; overall, however, these plants are hardy in zones 3 through 8. It's also essential to pay attention to their soil needs. Viburnums grow best when they're planted in moist soil that's rich with nutrients. However, ensure that they have enough drainage so as to not become waterlogged, especially since overwatering is a common beginner gardening mistake. These ornamental shrubs also prefer soil that's slightly acidic, with a pH ranging from 5.5 to 6.5.

As far as sunlight goes, aim for full sun for the best results. Ample light will help these shrubs flower come spring, which will lead to the berries that can feed the birds in your yard. Viburnums can also grow in more shaded conditions, depending on the species. Deep shade tends to be a no-go for viburnums, however, so you'll want to find another bird-friendly pick for the heavily shaded areas of your yard.

You can plant viburnums in the fall or spring. After you've planted and established this shrub, maintenance is simple, though viburnums do need mulching. Fertilizing is typically a biannual task, occurring in the fall and spring, while you'll want to prune these ornamental shrubs come spring. These simple care tips will help your viburnum stay healthy season after season, providing the perfect shelter for birds during the winter.