How to Pick Garden Bird Houses

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Birdhouses in the garden are not only decorative, but if you pick wisely they can be functional too. They will add charm and style to your yard and provide protection from those nasty bugs that love to devour your veggies.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Internet access
Bird book (optional)

Step1

Decide the purpose for adding a birdhouse to your garden. Birdhouses that are for decorative purposes only don’t need to meet size and height requirements like those designed to attract specific birds.

Step2

Pick a decorative birdhouse based on the design that appeals to you. Birdhouses are available in many styles from cute little log homes to elaborate castles. With a little care, you can find one that is just the right style to add visual appeal to your garden.

Step3

Think about the atmosphere you want to create in your garden. This will affect the style of birdhouse you pick. For a sophisticated area designed to serve as an entertainment area for your guests, choose well-designed birdhouses that have clearly defined and sleek lines. For the country look, pick rustic birdhouses featuring country styles and colors.

Step4

Mount decorative birdhouses on a fence facing the front of the garden. A post located in the center of the garden is also a great way to display a birdhouse and will serve as the focal point of your garden. Trees around your yard are ideal for mounting birdhouses to create the look and feel that you are most comfortable with.

Step5

Grouping birdhouses in one area to create a bird community will provide a homey atmosphere to your garden. Add a rustic chair for seating and a few flowering plants to create a down home feeling.

Step6

Functional birdhouses require a little more attention to detail. Find out what kind of birds live in your area. Ask your bird watching friends or visit WhatBird online (see Resources) to find out. Once you know which birds live in your area, decide which birds you would most like to attract. Bluebirds are popular, but bare in mind that bluebirds are particular in their nesting habits and are not likely to nest in birdhouses too close to your garden area. Bluebird houses are nice on the perimeter of your property, but must meet height and size requirements in order to attract bluebirds.

Step7

Find the nesting requirements and preferred birdhouse style for the particular bird you wish to attract. Wrens, sparrows, nuthatches, and chickadees make wonderful garden guests. Birdhouse Basics provides basic information for building birdhouses and has free plans for several styles. Check the information provided by the Baltimore Bird Club for more information.

Step8

Purchase or build a birdhouse to the specifications of the birds you wish to attract.

Step9

Mount the birdhouse according the height given in the description of your particular birdhouse.

Tips & Warnings

Whatever you pick, birdhouses will add style and appeal to your garden. Decorative birdhouses are sure to have your neighbors talking. Not only will functional boxes provide you with hours of pleasure as you watch your feathered friends build a nest and raise a family, but the birds will provide natural insect control for your garden, too.