Benefits of Birdbaths In Your Garden

Birdbaths can make a wonderful addition to any lawn and garden space.  They are used to water and bathe birds and as a place for birds to frolic in the sun with their avian friends.  But birdbaths bring more than just that to the garden.  They come in many different kinds, shapes and sizes; you should be able to find the right birdbath to fit any lawn and garden decor.  Read further to find out the many benefits of having birdbaths in your lawn and garden as well as some helpful birdbath tips. 

If you set a birdbath out in your lawn and garden, it’s a sure bet feathered visitors will come flocking, especially on warm summer days.  Birdbaths run the gamut from simple to elaborate.  Some are simple bowls that sit on the ground or atop pedestals or hang from chains.  Others are designed as much for the people who watch the birds as for the birds themselves.  You can also display eye-catching birdbaths as garden art.  Once birds discover your garden bath as a reliable source of water, if placed in the right spot and kept filled and clean, your garden will come alive with their color, music and activity.  You’ll discover the pleasure of watching sparrows, cardinals and other songbirds swoop into the birdbath for a splashing good time.  If you have squirrels in the area, they might also delight you with their antics as they attempt to take advantage of your birdbath.  A dip in a birdbath cools birds in summer, and it can help them keep warm in winter.  Frequent bathing stimulates birds by keeping their feathers clean and fluffed.  So keep the birdbath filled, clean and ready for whatever flies your way.

Here are some birdbath basics to follow to get the most out of your birdbath.  Try to find a birdbath that is shallow and roomy.  Ideally, baths should be 2-3” deep and 24-36” across.  The sides should slope gradually.  Consider the material your birdbath is made out of.  Some materials like plastic are too slippery for birds and can crack with age.  Metal dishes, if used, should be of stainless steel or other rust-resistant material.  It’s very important to keep your birdbath clean in order to keep your avian friends returning.  Use a strong jet of water from the base to clean the bowl.  Keep your birdbath safe by putting it next to shrubs or trees that will provide cover and escape routes.  Place ground-level birdbaths where they have 10-20’ of open space around them, but no more or you’ll leave damp birds exposed to hawks, owls and cats.  In cold climates keep it from freezing by adding a heating element that insures it stays thawed.  If possible, add a fountain of some kind to your birdbath.  Birds are attracted to running water.  Some birdbaths already come with some kind of water fountain feature.  And lastly, keep in mind that standing water has the potential to attract those tiny annoying little bugs called mosquitoes, so place your birdbath somewhere that won’t be a problem for you.

With the help of these tips and ideas for birdbaths, you should be able to find the right one for your lawn and garden and be able to attract your feathered friends for a visit or two.  The benefits of birdbaths are well worth the effort it takes in keeping them clean, filled, placed safely and picking the right one.  Add a birdbath to your outdoor space today and enjoy the many perks they bring to your lawn and garden. 

Beginner Flower Garden - Tips For a Beautiful Garden

Planting a flower garden may be an overwhelming experience for anybody let alone a beginner gardener.  The good news is there are easy ways to get around it by following these simple steps.  Read on to find out what these simple tips are for planning your garden landscape and what lawn décor to choose to get what you want from the sweet escape in your backyard. 

Before you head to a nursery or garden center, make sure you have a plan.  Think about where you want to put your flowers and garden accessories, what colors you want where, how many and so forth.  This will make your shopping experience much easier and faster and probably less expensive.  You’ll want to enjoy a garden that’s in bloom from early spring to late fall by choosing annuals (plants that do not come back every year) and perennials (plants that do come back every year) based on when they flower.  Refer to plant tags for specific information that pertains to your garden.  When picking plants at the nursery pay attention to the height and width before assigning them a permanent home.  When it’s time to divide your perennials, offer to share your extras with your garden-savvy neighbors in return for plants you don’t have yet.  Make sure to observe your yard’s sun and shade areas.  Look for wet or dry spots.  Watch for sandy soil and dense clay.  By knowing your garden’s conditions, you can plant flowers where they’ll thrive.  For soils that do not produce thriving plants consider putting garden accessories such as garden statues, gnomes, wind spinners, wind chimes, stepping stones, mulch, rock, and other lawn and garden décor.  When choosing garden accessories for additional lawn décor around your garden, consider potting perennials and/or annuals in containers and placing them around your yard. Garden planters are an easy way to create colorful accents.  Many plants benefit from deadheading, when faded blooms are removed to encourage new growth.  To deadhead, cut off the spent slower close to a bud that’s lower on the stem or above a leaf node.  To enjoy perennials or annuals indoors, cut the flowers in early morning or late afternoon, submerge them in lukewarm water and add a floral preservative. 

Garden accessories are a great way to add a little extra something to any outdoor space.  The nice thing about garden accessories is that they come in all forms, shapes and sizes.  Choosing the right lawn décor for your garden or backyard is always a fun experience because there is so much you can do with it.  Garden stepping stones make transitioning from one place in your backyard to another very easy and it is also very decorative.  Stepping stones can be anything from limestone rock, cement blocks or slates to flat plaques.  Don’t forget about your avian friends.  Putting bird houses, bird baths and bird feeders in a flower garden invites even more color and entertainment to enjoy.  There are tons of different kinds of bird feeders out there; some are decorative, some are for specific kinds of birds and some are very plain-jane bird feeders.  Which ever strikes your fancy your avian friends will be sure to re-visit your flower garden.  Other garden accessories you can consider putting up in your flower garden are wind chimes and wind spinners.  You can find many different kinds of hook stands out there for hanging these types of garden accessories as well as brackets for the side of a post or wall. 

Your flower garden will look amazing after following these simple steps in planning for a garden.  The nice thing about garden accessories is that they are versatile.  You can put them almost anywhere and plant flowers around them or accent some already planted flowers and plants with the garden accessories.  Whatever you choose to do you will be happy with the result it produces.  

New Bird Baths!

We have just added some new bird baths, check them out today!  Bird baths are a wonderful way to interact with your feathered friends and can be a very entertaining piece of garden art for your backyard or garden space!

On Sale This Week!

Click here to view our sales of the week! http://www.outdoormama.com/page/page/7225627.htm