Fostering Bird-Friendly Gardens in San Antonio
As the warm hues of fall settle into the beautiful landscapes of San Antonio, there’s an exciting shift happening in our gardens. This is a wonderful time of the year, not just for enjoying the changing leaves but also for taking care of our feathered friends. With the temperature beginning to dip, many of us are getting ready to feed the birds for winter, while also pondering which trees to plant. Why not choose trees that are especially beneficial to our local birds? Sounds like a great idea, right?
Welcoming Birds with the Right Trees
Few things are more delightful than the presence of birds flitting about your garden. To ensure that they have sufficient food and shelter through winter, it’s essential to plant the right trees. CPS Energy encourages homeowners to select trees that not only provide shape and save energy but also meet the birds’ requirements.
One of the fantastic options you can explore is the anaqua tree. Known for its dense crown that offers excellent cover, the anaqua tree is a native evergreen that brings lots of joy to our gardens. Often referred to as the sandpaper tree due to the texture of its leaves, it grows up to 30 feet tall and is remarkably drought-tolerant and free from pests. The impressive part? Anaqua produces a bounty of yellow sticky berries every spring, which attracts a variety of birds like cardinals and mockingbirds in summer. Watching these birds enjoy the ripe fruit provides a beautiful scene right in your backyard!
Texas Persimmons: A Treat for Both Birds and Deer
Another native contender worth planting is the Texas persimmon. This charming tree typically reaches about 15 feet in height and is highly adaptable, thriving even in poor, well-drained soil. While you may often find one waiting patiently in your landscape, these trees can be grown from seed or purchased in containers. If you’re lucky enough to have a female Texas persimmon, rest assured there will be male trees nearby for pollination, ensuring fruit production!
The flowers of the Texas persimmon are not showy, but they do carry a lovely fragrance, blooming in February. Come August, the fruit is ripe and ready for feasting. Interestingly, not only do birds love these fruits, but deer enjoy them too, making the Texas persimmon a fantastic multitasker in your garden.
Mexican Plum: A Beautiful Addition
The Mexican plum is another wonderful lawn companion that can withstand both sun and shade—growing up to 15 feet tall. This tree stands out in full sun, creating a stunning landscape feature with its dense crown that becomes a favorite spot for birds to nest and hunt insects. It blooms in February, and while the fruit ripens in September, it may not be as appealing to birds as the persimmon. However, that doesn’t stop robins from enjoying its delightful mulberry fruit!
Consider the Red Mulberry and Hackberry Trees
If you’re after fast-growing trees, the red mulberry delivers! With heights up to 35 feet, this tree loves to attract birds, especially during fruiting season. However, due to its propensity to produce unwanted seedlings, it’s best grown away from your house and other precious plants.
On the flip side, hackberries also serve as excellent bird feeders, although they don’t carry the same delight for our feathered friends as mulberries. Hackberries reach over 50 feet in height and thrive best away from the house, just like mulberries, to avoid excess seedlings.
Join the Local Gardening Community
If you’re interested in taking your gardening passion further, mark your calendars for a free Butterfly and Milkweed Class, taking place at 6 p.m. on November 9 at the Sinken Eco Centro. Attendees will have the chance to get hands-on experience while growing their gardens for butterflies and other wildlife.
So as we welcome winter, let’s not forget about our delightful bird friends! With a bit of planning, we can create a space that not only thrives with greenery but also supports the vibrant wildlife around us.
