The Top 5 Trees to Plant for Wildlife

A well planned garden can provide for the wildlife that makes your yard interesting and active. As well manicured yards continue to grow and spread out across once forested areas, it is important to remember that the wildlife in your area still needs a place to live. There are several trees that you can plant in your own yard to help out the local wildlife and increase the plant and wildlife diversity.

Here are the top five trees that you can plant for wildlife. All five trees provide some need for wildlife, add beauty to your yard and give you the joy of viewing wildlife right outside your window.

Oaks
There are several types of oaks for you to choose from, but all of them are a great choice for wildlife. Start by researching the native types of oaks that grow in your region, and pick one of them for the best growing results and to appeal to local birds. Oaks are valuable because of the shelter and food they provide to deer, birds and squirrels. Oak branches provide plenty of nesting sites and their bark winters several types of insects.

Willows
I love willows for their long, ground sweeping branches. It turns out that several birds, animals and insects prefer willow trees for the exact same reason. Many types of wildlife seek shelter and protection in the branches of a willow tree where the lush leaves keeps them hidden from predators. Insects can also be found buzzing around the trees because of the abundance of pollen and nectar. Other insects make their homes in the bark of this beautiful tree.

Birches
Birch trees are a favorite among many types of birds, especially chickadees, grouse and hummingbirds. Grouse and chickadees feed on the seeds found in the catkins of the tree and hummingbirds come for the sap that flows down the sides of the tree. Admiral butterflies as well as a couple different types of moth larvae use the tree as a host.

Pines
Pine trees are probably the best four season tree for wildlife since they keep their needles through the fall and winter months. Several small mammals and types of birds make their homes in the branches of pine trees. In the spring, more birds move in to use the branches for nesting sites. A pine tree feeds birds and small mammals with the seeds from its pinecones as well as pine needles.

Dogwoods
Dogwoods are finding their way into more and more residential yards because of the beauty they add to the landscaping. The only thing wildlife finds beautiful about this ornamental tree are the loads of fruit it produces. If you add a dogwood tree to your yard, you will notice a huge jump in the number of birds that visit your yard.