How to Choose a Birdbath to Fit Your Garden

A birdbath may be the smallest and simplest water feature you could put in your garden but it's also the easiest to maintain. A birdbath will provide hours of pleasure as you and your family observe the feathered visitors a birdbath will attract to your garden.

Birdbaths come in a variety of sizes, shapes and styles. They can be mounted on a pedestal as is probably the most popular style. But, they can also be sunk into the ground, hung from a tree branch or supported on a post.

How to Choose a Birdbath for the Garden - Homemade Birdbath

One of the most rewarding ways to put a birdbath into your garden is to make it yourself. It's easy to make a homemade birdbath. All you need is a large dish with sloping sides and a depth of about 3-4 inches. You can use anything from a flower pot to a trash can lid. Sink the container into the ground and fill with water for a homemade birdbath in your garden.

How to Choose a Birdbath for the Garden - Location

You'll need to consider the location of your birdbath when choosing which type to place in your garden. Birds will not visit a birdbath if they do not feel secure there. It's best to choose a place in your garden near trees or shrubs where the birds can take refuge. Choose a birdbath for your garden (or make one) that will fit in such a place.

How to Choose a Birdbath for the Garden - Extreme Weather

A sunken birdbath will provide some protection against frost if you live in a climate where the winters are very harsh. However, an above ground birdbath will be more prone to freezing. Keep this in mind when choosing a birdbath for your garden. If the water does happen to freeze, make sure to melt it as soon as possible.

How to Choose a Birdbath for the Garden - Cleaning

You'll also want to choose a birdbath for your garden that is easy to clean. If you have lots of visitors to the birdbath, you'll need to clean it more often. Generally, a garden birdbath should be cleaned about twice a month but if it becomes murky, you can clean it out sooner.

A large, heavy birdbath with a deep bowl may be much harder for one person to clean than a smaller birdbath made of plastic, etc. Also, homemade birdbaths are often easier to clean as they are sunken into the ground. This should definitely be a consideration when choosing a birdbath for the garden because birds won't frequent a dirty birdbath.