Bird Baths in Your Yard
|
Article by: Ronald Patterson HOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEE Has summer , Bonsai Plant Care: What You Need to Know come in with a bang! Heat waves everywhere. And where is the rain? Yolanda is at camp this week. She gets so excited. She can remember that camp is a fun time for her, yet she can't remember or tell you what she did during the week or her last day there. A few miles west of Grand Rapids is "Indian Trails Camp." Indian Trails is a special camp for special needs people of all ages. Camp is staffed with a registered nurse and camp counselors. The counselors are college students. Many of them come from other countries that are studying and training in a special needs field. Last year there was a counselor from Australia, Yolanda thought he was a HUNK! It's a good respite for all. Mom is dealing with another bout of pneumonia. They brought her to the hospital for a 12 hour stay and she's still at the nursing home. , The Value of Mulch I just don't know any more, I weep every time I leave her. BIRDBATHS. Recently I have had several questions on and about birdbaths. So........ I will address many of these questions again. Now for you old timers......... you can still read this anyway. Birdbaths come in many different shapes and styles. From a several hundred dollar fancy one to something as simple as a terra cotta saucer. All too often, the fancy ones are more of a hassle to clean and keep clean. The sculpting and flowers , Earthworms in the Garden/Earthworm Facts are a magnet for trapping dirt and algae. They can have the proper dimensions and work great as a bath and a quick drink. Just remember they are extra work to maintain. The width of the bowl isn't a problem. A problem can occur when the bowl is too deep. A proper depth for a birdbath is 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep. Anything deeper without a raised flat , Ecological Landscape Design and Organic Lawn Care surface (stone or brick) can be asking for trouble in the way of drowning or birds , Build a Rain Garden unable to escape quickly. It's true, I have a clay bowl 3 inches deep for my robins and bluejays. I also have a raised flat , With So Many Choices For Patio Furniture, Finding The Perfect Set To Complement Your Yard Is Easy surface in the middle. A Petoskey stone , Wildlife in Winter Ponds I found one year in the Little Traverse Bay at Bayview, Michigan. It makes a nice added surface and a bit of a conversation piece for visitors to see a Petoskey stone , Development Stages Of Electric Lawnmowers that size. We also have a two-tiered concrete , Build A Simple Planter Box bath on the tree , When to Fly Old Glory stump style. This is a left over from the years we owned our wild bird , The Truth About MTD Snow Blowers specialty store. It's very functional and gets used, but it takes more time and care to clean. Still, I like it in my yard , Choosing Fish for the Garden Pond as an added feature. , Invite Spring Early - Grow in Your Basement The easiest one to clean and the one that gets used the most is a simple two piece concrete , Dogs and Gardens: 10 Tips for Enjoying Your Dog and Your Garden Too birdbath. The bowl is 1 1/2 inches deep and has a bit of a raised surface in the middle. It is a neutral color , Earthworms in the Garden/Earthworm Facts and a plain surface. My smaller birds , Abatement Challenges of Non-Native Noxious Weeds as well as my mourning doves are at this bath all the time. We need to fill it constantly it seems and it needs sanitizing more often. THINK LIKE A BIRD. I keep bringing that up don't I? Thinking like a bird , Types of Water Gardens does not mean bird , Discover the Art of Topiary brained : ) Take notice as to where birds , Planting and Propagating Bulbs congregate for a bath, some playtime and a drink. A simple mud puddle or where the sprinklers puddle up on streets and sidewalks. Nature's way of water , Patio Covers for birds. , Landscaping Lighting Techniques Natural looking sources will help attract birds , Seed Starting Tips to your yard , Choosing Fish for the Garden Pond and birdbaths. Earth tone colors. , Invite Spring Early - Grow in Your Basement Tan, brown, terra cotta, gray etc. Are you getting the idea now? Natural feeling and looking surfaces. Stay away from pretty colors , Landscaping Lighting Techniques like bright blues , Bonsai Plant Care: What You Need to Know and greens. , Lanscaping - Planning Your Next Project These bright colors , The Value of Mulch are usually found on the glazed baths which as a BIG NO, NO! Oh sure, the glazed baths are nice and easy to clean, but how often are they getting used? A glazed bath is also an invitation to a potential death or two. Birds need something to grip, something to hold onto and feel safe. , Ecological Landscape Design and Organic Lawn Care Too often a thirsty bird , The Truth About MTD Snow Blowers or a juvenile will fall , Teak Outdoor Furniture -- From the Forests to Ships to Your Patio in and drown. Young birds , Planting and Propagating Bulbs are clueless to life's traps and dangers. They see water , Development Stages Of Electric Lawnmowers or just a place , When to Fly Old Glory to perch and may easily fall , Pine Furniture Care Guide in. Bigger birds , Planting and Propagating Bulbs like robins and smaller birds , Build A Simple Planter Box that may be perching, lose grips as well. A soaking wet bird , Tips For Growing Beautiful House Plants Even If You're A Beginner is slow in flight and a poor surface impedes flight a split second longer. In nature, , Budget For Your Garden that fraction of a second can mean life or death. Location, Location, , Landscaping for Wildlife Location. , Everything You need to Know to Set up Your Square Foot Garden A common phrase in business. Also an important phrase when it comes to locating a birdbath. Your bath(s) should be out in the open yet near protection. An oxymoron? Not really. A bath should be placed in an opening or where nothing is growing, , Build a Rain Garden yet make sure there is a shrub , Earthworms in the Garden/Earthworm Facts or a tree , Bonsai Plant Care: What You Need to Know near by. Birds need to find a safe place , Development Stages Of Electric Lawnmowers to perch while they preen themselves. A wet bird , Patio Covers is a slow bird. , Garden Water Feature - The Fish Dish All of my baths are within 15 feet of a tree , Mustard: The Greatest Among The Herbs or other protection. If you plant , Patio Covers anything around your bath, make sure it is a low growing plant. , Patio Covers Cats will hide in your garden , Mustard: The Greatest Among The Herbs and pounce on your unsuspecting birds , Pesticides if givin the chance to do so. Danger also comes from the sky, but birds , Wildlife in Winter Ponds will be looking for hawks Also, place , Pine Furniture Care Guide your source of water , Teak Adirondack Chairs where you can enjoy the action. Place it where it is easy for you to keep clean and filled. I can't number the times I've seen an empty or filthy birdbath that is totally ignored because it is located as a piece of yard , Beware of Toxic Mulch art, not as a birdbath. KEEP IT CLEAN Well, you've got your birdbaths or other sources of water. , Unique Flowers make a memorable gift! Now how do you keep it clean? This isn't rocket science, yet many people neglect this task. Maintaining is more efficient then having to do a total scrub all the time. Yes, it's true a good cleaning is needed and you will know when it's needed. Here are a couple of things that I have found that work for me. Near dusk, if my bath needs filling, I will refill with fresh water , Seed Starting Tips and put a cap or two of chlorine bleach into the water. , Give your Seeds a Head Start - How to Start Your Seeds Indoor This keeps germs and algae down between cleanings and the chlorine will have oxidized by morning. My favorite stuff is the oxygen bleach products. , Wildlife in Winter Ponds I use this on a lot of things. I was reminded by a dear friend that this stuff foams up some. My apologies for not making that all too clear. I can use my Oxi-Boost any time of day and feel safe. , Unique Flowers make a memorable gift! It sanitizes and kills algae, even when my birds , Patio Umbrella Covers take a sip. They don't mind a little foaming action. I sprinkle in just enough around the edges and a bit in the middle and let it go to work. Experiment on this one until you find what works for you. I would guess a table spoon full. I like this stuff because it is all natural, , Two Answers to a Poinsettia FAQ: How Can I Get My Poinsettia to Rebloom? environment , With So Many Choices For Patio Furniture, Finding The Perfect Set To Complement Your Yard Is Easy friendly, won't stain my clothes or if spilled, kill my plants. , Container Gardening The only drawback is it leaves a white , Tomatoes: Apples Of Love residue when water , Two Answers to a Poinsettia FAQ: How Can I Get My Poinsettia to Rebloom? evaporates. I can live with that, however. Every now and then, a good scrubbing is needed. Especially on baths that have grooves and patterns. Even worse to clean, are the ones with stone , Tomatoes: Apples Of Love embedded. If using chlorine or another harsh cleaner, place , The Secret To Healthier Plants? Let's Ask My Grandfather your bowl on a neutral surface like a driveway. Let it soak for several minutes and then scrub. Rinse and re-rinse. Oxygen bleach can be done right where it stands without a problem. I appreciate all the questions and inquirers. Keep them coming and I will do my best to help out. Whew.............. I'm pooped. I hope this has been some help for you. Hey............. until next time my friend. Have a blessed week and I look forward to chatting with you all. Remember to SMILE. RonRonald Patterson, has been caring and feeding wildbirds in his backyard , Teak Outdoor Furniture -- From the Forests to Ships to Your Patio for more then 40 years. Ron and his wife Karen also owned and operated a wild bird , Teak Adirondack Chairs specialty store for many years. With his gardening , Two Answers to a Poinsettia FAQ: How Can I Get My Poinsettia to Rebloom? skills and knowledge as a Michigan Certified Nurseryman, Ron publishes a weekly newsletter called Backyard , Seed Starting Tips Birding Tips. , Types of Water Gardens http://www.backyardbirdingtips.com/ Sign up now and learn how to , Build a Rain Garden attract, garden , The Secret To Healthier Plants? Let's Ask My Grandfather and care for wild birds , Patio Umbrella Covers in your backyard. , Container Gardening Ron, Karen and their daughter Yolanda live in the Grand Rapids Michigan area. http://www.backyardbirdingtips.com/ |
  
|
Landscape Gardening
- Bamdoo
- Benches
- Berries
- Bonsai
- Building
- Bulbs
- Compost
- Flowers
- Gardening
- Grass
- Herbs
- Hydroponics
- Landscape Design
- Landscaping Ideas
- Lawn
- Lawnmowers
- Mulch
- Orchids
- Outdoor Furniture
- Outdoor Lights
- Patio Furniture
- Ponds
- Roses
- Seeds
- Sheds
- Shrubs
- Soil
- Tomatoes
- Trees
- UK Home and Garden
- Vegetable Garden
- Vines
Seasonal Gardening
mygarden.net.au Gardening | Landscaping | Climate Change | Home Improvement | How To DIY | Home Garden | Interior Design | Home Security | Home Finance | Forum | DIY | Add Your Link |