What to plant around bird feeding station in the lawn?

We have a shady corner in front of the back livingroom window where I'm planning to stand our new all sing and dance birdfeeding station

I'd love to plant some bird friendly plants around the pole, but would need advise. The main constraint is the lack of sun, and I also don't want anything to creep into the surrounding lawn. Seedlings should be fine with regular mowing (forever the optimist! )

The area is ok condition lawn, with a path between it and the house so filling the feeders should be easy.

I have thought about Rosa Rugosa, which will survive anywhere and I happen to have an extra one in a pot, or teasel for winter interest, or just annuals (beans?) for the summer. Or maybe a honeysuckle climbing the pole of the feeder?

I don't want a formal "bed", just some planting around the pole to make it more natural. Ideally I'd like to have something to soften the view over winter so I'd like to have something more than summer flowers.

Any ideas please?

Thanks!

 

Without a picture it is difficult to advise but the main requirement around a bird feeding station is cover. Birds feel safer feeding when not completely exposed. They like shrubs and bushes to dive into when they feel threatened, for example when a predator approaches. What is already in the nearby location and how close are the nearest bushes?

 

Hi Selleri , four shrubs come to my mind straight away........... Ribes for Spring flowers/berries then Pyracantha and Cotoneaster for later flowers and Autumn berries and of course Holly for Winter berries.

 

Thanks Redwing and KFF! I agree, a shrub would probably be a good choice. The feeding station will be on the house end of a triangular lawn which ends in a lovely, mature ivy and bramble covered wall, the distance is about 6 meters. (Pardon my measurement units, I'm a Finn ) Sparrows already happily take bread crumbs from the back steps and there are a few other visitors who are currently feasting on the ivy delights.

I had thought about Ribes, there are some lovely kinds which don't give much berrywise for humans but look nice and might make the birds happy. Cotoneaster is a dilemma, there are some plants growing in the neighbourghood but they look sickly. Perhaps the soil is not to their liking? (No idea what's under the grass but judging by the front garden beds we might have muddy clay soil here)

Pyracantha is unfortunately out of question until I overcome a childhood trauma with the plant

For practical purposes, it would be great if the shrub(s) didn't block the way to fill the feeders too much, or be too prickly. I guess my Rugosa doesn't fit the bill...

 

Ivy is perfect cover. It is also an excellent plant for attracting birds as it’s full of insects and when mature it is one of the best wildlife plants as the berries are late and provide food when there isn’t much else around.

 

Ok

I am a fan of Rosa Rugosa

Then the Rugosa is out of the question. For one, those thorns can be as lethal as pyracantha (I'm a big fan of those too ) plus, rugosas are suckering plants and could end up popping up into the surrounding lawn - which you clearly state you do not want to happen. However, one way around that issue would be to plant it in a large container. Bird friendly shrubs tend towards thorny shrubs because they offer better protection against predators, but, it seems thorns are not to be favoured in your case.

Do you know what type of soil you are working with?

The lack of sunlight is going to be the biggest deciding factor in what to grow (not so much the soil because, as I stated earlier, anything you really fancy could go in a pot if soil is the only issue).

So, what are we left with: shady corner, winter interest, bird friendly.

Mahonia would fit the bill and would attract birds, butterflies, moths and provide winter interest. The only downside is it can be suckering; but, as before, putting it in a large container would ease that issue.

 

I guess one can learn to live with little pricks

Containers are a great idea. I have some evergreen honeysuckle which might be happy in the corner on the path as the tops would get reasonable light when it grows. If not, I can always take cuttings from the ivy

Mahonia might also look great, it has a good shape but unless I get lucky in Aldi it could be an investment to get something bigger than a toothpick... I'll keep my eyes open.

Thanks everybody, great tips!

 

@Selleri , if you are worried about being attacked by a Pyracantha, you should be wary of Mahonia as it`s other (polite) name is ''razor blade bush''
Incidentally @''M'' I have never yet noticed a Mahonia that suckers ??
My choices for your bird feeding area would be a nice easy variegated Ligustrum (Privet) or maybe a Griselinia - green or variegated. These plants are soft, and easy enough to clip. The variegated Ligustrum can make a very handsome shrub if left to it`s own devices, and would give cover to birds.
Large grasses are valuable to birds as well - so I`ve noticed. During the winter months I see small birds feeding on the various Miscanthus plants I grow.
As @Redwing mentioned, good old Ivy is superb for the birds, and would look great climbing up to the feeders.

 

They did at my campus, no idea on the variety though.

 

Indeed!

 

not sure where you live? or how cold your area gets. I would plant shrubs etc that the birds can hide in and be blocked by any hard winter winds. some nice dense conifers etc. I have my feeders near dense shrubs, so they can hover deep inside and fly out to eat, etc.