http://www.care2.com/greenliving/grow-trash-trees-for-birds-treasure.html
Grow “Trash Trees” for Birds Treasure
Adapted from Bird-by-Bird Gardening: The Ultimate Guide to Bringing in Your Favorite Birds—Year After Year, by Sally Roth (Rodale, 2006).
Sumacs, pincherries, chokecherries, wild plums, and lots of other fast-growing native trees—weeds, in other words—spring up and grow like lightning. While we might look at these “trees” as a nuisance near refined gardens, much like poison ivy, they may just be the wonderland your birds were wanting.
“Trash trees” are fast-growing, not classically beautiful like an oak, often short-lived, and have little or no dollar value for lumber. They’re the chokecherries, poplars, hackberries, box-elders, and other trees that spring up in unattended areas almost as soon as your back is turned.
When I first heard the term years ago, I thought they were in the league of weeds. I could see that the trees in those brushy hedgerows weren’t nearly as beautiful as the graceful dogwood that held a place of honor in my yard—and for which I’d paid a pretty penny. Sniff! Trash trees, who needs ’em?
Oh, how young and dumb I was.
Eventually it dawned on me that just about every bird that landed in my dogwood came from the trash trees. Maybe we can’t make boards out of them, and maybe they aren’t classic beauties, but “trash trees” are hugely valuable to birds. They offer ideal nesting sites, they’re great cover, and the mixed thickets create corridors for birds to safely move about. And that’s not even considering all the insect food and fruit they offer up, let alone their use as nesting material.
One of my most successful bird gardens ever was a 6-foot-wide strip that we simply stopped mowing, along one side of our country yard. Goldenrod and asters soon moved in, followed by blackberries, wild grapes, and saplings of all sorts. Sumacs, pincherries, chokecherries, wild plums, and lots of other fast-growing native trees sprang up.
In just a few years, I had a great natural hedgerow that was burgeoning with vireos, flycatchers, orioles, bluebirds, wrens, robins, flickers, native sparrows, even quail.
Trash trees? I don’t think such a thing exists. Trees that volunteer, grow 6 feet tall in a year or two, and provide super bird appeal are more like true treasure.
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10 comments
add your comment »This is all very fine when one doesn't have visits from neighboring cats, as I do. I live in a small country town with a large animal (dogs and cats) population. Everyday I find many bird visitors in my yard, but only when the neighboring cats are away? They make their nests in my high laurel bushes. Hummingbirds are attracted to my large honysuckles. Small birds love the forsythia. But if there was some way I can discourage the neighbors' cats from visiting, then the birds would stay longer.
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I agree with most of this article but it's very important to know what kind of trees and shrubs you have. In the midwest, there are many invasive species like European Buckthorn and Japanese Honeysuckle. These species take over native woodlands and shade out the native plants, so much so that the ground becomes barren and erodes. Studies have shown that birds do not do well nesting in the foreign species and are more easily preyed upon. These are true "trash trees"-perhaps o.k. in their native environment - very destructive when they are out of place. Please don't contribute to the problem by allowing non-native species to prosper. Native trees, shrubs, and plants are where it's at!
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I mostly agree with this article-however it's important to learn about what the trees specifically are. In the midwest, trash trees and shrubs like european buckthorn and japanese honeysuckle invade native areas and take over. They shade out the native plants until the soil is barren underneath them. Studies have shown that birds are less successful nesting in these trees and shrubs. Native plants for your area is where it's at!
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I love the idea of having "trash trees" in my back yard almost as much as I like the idea of our mowed areas becoming wildflower areas and drawing so many flying critters!! So peaceful to wake up to bird calls! Thank you!!
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I have maples in my front yard and "trash" trees in my back yard, and I see many varieties of birds, including robins, orioles, bluejays, cardinals, woodpeckers, finches, and grackles. I think the soft wood of the sumac trees attracts insects which the birds like to eat. My problem is with the bird droppings on my cars(and the waste of water to hose them off daily so I can see while driving). Does anyone have a kind idea to discourage these birds from sitting on the power lines over my driveway? I bought one of those plastic owls, but it didn't help.
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Wow, thank you. Does this apply to Southern CA? I have a flowering plum that naturally grew out of my compost pile as well as an avocado tree. Are these "trash trees"? They have taken over by the way and I don't know what to do.
Having birds and butterflies in your garden is such a joy. I just love watching them.
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We have a lot of 'trash' trees growing in our yard. I'm thinking of digging them up and replanting them in more appropriate areas. Like close to where the electric company recently cut down bigger trees but not close enough to interfere with the lines. I'm hoping they will take root and grow. 'My' birds have been so upset over the loss of their habitat; as are the other critters we enjoy having around.
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Your "trash" trees are doing us ALL a great and admirable service. The latest data on carbon uptake in tree growth shows clearly that new growth uptakes exponentially more carbon than do mature trees. The birds seem to know where they should be and what they should be doing. Wish humans could see and act as clearly. I'm letting 2 acres of our 6 acres that aren't already wooded go back to what Nature intends. Already the birds, armadillos, and tortoises are spreading what should have been there all along. Nothing I could do would come close to this purity and rightness. The PhD at UF who told me the latest news on their research said to stop using anything but real trees during the Xmas season, too. Only snag though is the disposal. Said burying them was best after the holidays, not burned, not tossed into bodies of water -- if the goal is to lock away carbon. Even mulching them which delays the release of carbon is better for us all. Trees! Billions and billions of new ones! Let's get planting and nurturing what Nature gifts to us all.
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this article is very good!
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I've never heard that term before, but agree - birds usually like leafy trees where they can get protection and ideally a bite to eat. They generally don't seem to appreciate the inherent beauty of a flowering tree as much as we humans do ;)
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