Pennsylvania; Mid-Atlantic Landscaping for Wildlife

8/3/2019 Pennsylvania; Mid-Atlantic Landscaping for Wildlife

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2008 YCCD 1

Landscaping for WildlifeMid-Atlantic Ecological Landscape Partnership

(MAEscapes)

York County Conservation District


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2008 YCCD 2

Presenter

Gary R. Peacock, Watershed Specialist

York County Conservation District

118 Pleasant Acres Road

York, PA 17402

Phone: 717-840-7430Fax: 717-755-0301

E-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.yorkccd.org


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2008 YCCD 3

Introduction Landscaping for wildlife can restore critically

needed habitat and beautify your yard at thesame time.

Many excellent native trees, shrubs, and vinesoffer four seasons interest with their fragrant

flowers, eye-catching fruit, brilliant fall color, andsculptural forms in winter.

The same plants can attract a diversity of wildlifewith the food, cover, and nest sites they supply.

This program presents guidelines for selectingwoody plants (trees, shrubs, and vines) anddesigning your landscape with the goal ofproviding wildlife habitat and its enjoyment.


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2008 YCCD 4

Content

Landscaping for Wildlife: Trees, Shrubs

and Vines Selecting Plants

Designing Your Landscape

Questions to ask when planning, selecting, andplanting

References

For more information


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2008 YCCD 5

Selecting Plants Many excellent native

trees, shrubs, and vinesoffer four seasons interestwith their fragrant flowers,eye-catching fruit, brilliantfall color, and sculptural

forms in winter. The same plants can

attract a diversity ofwildlife with the food,

cover, and nest sites theysupply.


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2008 YCCD 6

Selecting PlantsSe lec t p lan t s t ha t p rov ide a

yea r - r ound sou rce of f ood . Many woody plants produce soft

mast (fruit) or hard mast (nuts)that provides food for both birdsand mammals. When selectingplants, choose a combination thatwill supply food throughout the

year. Dogwoods, mountain ash, and

spicebush produce fruit in latesummer and early fall and are animportant food source for fallmigrants.

Hawthorn, crabapple, holly,highbush cranberry, and staghornsumac retain their fruit throughwinter into early spring, the timeof greatest food scarcity.


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2008 YCCD 7


yea r - r ound sou rce of f ood . Oaks, hickories, beech, and other

trees that produce nuts providefood for mammals like squirrels,chipmunks, and deer, and forbirds such as bluejays.

These are often large trees, whichalso offer shade from the summersun and nest sites for many birds.

Many other plants, such asgrapevines, provide multiplebenefits including an abundantfood supply, dense cover, andnest sites.


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2008 YCCD 8


yea r - r ound sou rce of f ood .

Although we often associatebutterflies with wildflowersinstead of woody plants, thelarval caterpillars feed on anumber of woody species.

For example, tiger swallowtailcaterpillars feed on the leaves ofcherry, willow, sassafras, trees;and the spicebush swallowtail,true to its name, feeds on

spicebush leaves.

By providing a food source for thecaterpillars, you will attract morebutterflies to your flowers.


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2008 YCCD 9

Selecting PlantsSe lect p lan t s t ha t p rov ide

cove r and n est s i t es.

Cover is a key ingredient in thesuccess of your wildlife garden.

In winter, wildlife species needshelter from the cold and wind.

Evergreen trees and shrubs makesome of the best shelters,especially those which keep theirbranches close to the ground.

They provide shelter for manytypes of wildlife, particularly if

they are located on the northwestside of your lot where they blockcold winds.


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2008 YCCD 10


cove r and n est s i t es .

Deciduous shrubs with densebranching habits also make goodcover.

Examples are raspberries andblackberries; lilacs (which readily

sprout suckers); red-osier, gray,and silky dogwoods; andelderberries.

Diverse types and sizes of coverplants are useful to include inyour landscape plan, because

individual species of wildlife havedifferent preferences in theamount and location of cover.


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2008 YCCD 11


cove r and n est s i t es .

Fallen trees provide cover forsalamanders and small mammals.

Brush piles and rock piles aresources of cover, nest sites, andden sites for many wildlife

species. A trailing ground cover, such as a

ground rose, or a vine such asVirginia creeper can gracefullycamouflage your brush or rock

pile, blending it with otherlandscape features whileproviding an additional source offood and cover.


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2008 YCCD 12


cove r and n est s i t es.

Nesting places are vitallyimportant for wildlife.

Trees and shrubs that offer coverfrom predators and inclementweather also serve as sites for

birds to build nests and raise theiryoung.

Tree cavities in both living anddead trees provide nest sites for avariety of species including

woodpeckers, nuthatches,chickadees, flying squirrels, andgray squirrels.


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2008 YCCD 13

Designing Your Landscape The following guidelines

will help you with selecting

woody plants (trees,shrubs, and vines) anddesigning your landscapewith the goal of providingwildlife habitat and its

enjoyment.


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2008 YCCD 14

Designing Your Landscape As you design your

landscape, let nature be

your guide and try to copywhat you see in nature.

Plant trees and shrubs ingroups instead of asisolated individuals.

Plant corridors to connectislands of trees and shrubswith other natural areas.


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2008 YCCD 15

Designing Your Landscape Whenever possible, plant

combinations of tall trees,

smaller trees, shrubs, andherbaceous plantstogether.

This is important becausedifferent types of wildlifewill find food and cover atvarying heights.

Draw your plan on paper!


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2008 YCCD 16

Questions to Ask When Planning,

Selecting and Planting

To avoid problems, thereare questions you should

ask friends, commercialgrowers, and otherexperts when you selectplants and develop your

landscape plan.


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2008 YCCD 17

Questions to askW i l l t h i s p l an t p r o d u c e f r u i t ?

You may be selecting a plant

because of the value of itsfruit for wildlife and bedisappointed to discover itdoes not produce fruit.

Many ornamental trees andshrubs have been bred toproduce no fruit.

For example, ornamental fruittrees, such as floweringcherry, flowering peach, orflowering plum, usuallyproduce only showy flowersand no fruit.


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2008 YCCD 18

Questions to askW i l l t h i s f r u i t t r ee , nu t t r ee, o r

sm a l l f r u i t sh ru b need cross-

p o l l i n a t i on w i t h a p l a n t o f a

d i f f e ren t v a r i e t y t o y i e ld a crop?

Many fruit-producing trees needcross-pollination with a differentvariety to bear fruit.

Most nut trees yield a crop only ifa tree of the opposite sex isplanted nearby.

Holly, sumac, and spicebushrequire both sexes to set fruit.

Thus it is best to ask aboutpollination requirements whenyou purchase your plant.


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2008 YCCD 19

Questions to askW i l l t h i s p la n t b e h a r d y i n m y

a rea?

Winter climate zones in this stateare zone 5 (average minimumtemperature 20 to 10F) andzone 6 (10 to 0F).

Your area may include

microclimates wheretemperatures may be colder orwarmer than these zones.

Your county extension office cantell you the temperature range foryour area.


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2008 YCCD 20

Questions to askH o w m u ch m o i st u r e d o es m y

p lan t n eed?

Its important to determine howmuch moisture a particular plantrequires so that it will thrivewhere you plant it.

If you establish a native plant in

its preferred site, then wateringand fertilizing beyond the firstyear may not be necessary.

Mulch the area under the canopyto conserve water and maintain aconsistent root temperature.


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2008 YCCD 21

Questions to askW h a t w i l l t h e u l t i m a t e

d im ens ions o f t h i s p lan t be? How

m uch space w i l l it n eed? It is good to site a plant where it

can reach normal size withoutexcessive pruning.

Plants placed too close to

buildings or driveways may notgrow well or live long.

Nursery personnel can tell youwhat the mature size will be.


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2008 YCCD 22

Questions to askW hich exposu re i s best f o r t h i s

p l an t ( no r t h , sou t h , eas t , o r w est

s ide o f t h e house) ? Some plants need a shady, cool

location on the north side and dopoorly in the warmth of asouthern site.

Others require full sun andprotection from prevailing winds.

Fruit and nut-bearing plantsnormally need full sun to producea good yield.

You can also observe theenvironment where the plantgrows in the wild, or consult anative plant book for culturalinformation.


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2008 YCCD 23

Questions to askW hat t ype o f so il does t h i s p l an t

p re fe r? How a l ka l ine o r acid i c

shou ld t h e so i l pH be f o r t h i s p l a n t ?

Types of soil include loam, sandy,or clay soil.

You can find out what soil type

and pH your plant needs from thenursery where you bought theplant.

You can determine the pH of yoursoil by submitting a sample to

your county extension office fortesting.


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2008 YCCD 24

Questions to askH o w sh o u l d I p l an t a n d ca r e f or

m y n ew p lan t ?

Upon request, most nurseries willsupply information about how toplant, water, and nurture yournew plant so that it will thrive.


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2008 YCCD 25

Summary

Landscaping for Wildlife: Trees, Shrubs

and Vines Wildlife-Habitat Relationships

Selecting Plants

Designing Your Landscape Questions to ask when planning, selecting, and

planting

References

For more information


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2008 YCCD 26

ReferencesPennsylvania Wildlife:1. Wildlife-Habitat Relationships

2. Attracting Wildlife: Sources ofAssistance3. Managing Habitat for Eastern

Bluebirds4. House Finch Conjunctivitis5. Meadows and Prairies:

Wildlife-Friendly Alternativesto Lawns

6. Attracting Hummingbirds7. Landscaping for Wildlife:

Trees, Shrubs, and Vines

8. Gardening for Butterflies9. Managing Habitat for Eastern

Cottontails

10. Neighborly Natural

Landscaping: Creating NaturalEnvironments in ResidentialAreas

11. Winter Bird Feeding: TheBasics

12. Warm-Season Grasses and

Wildlife13. Managing Habitat for

American Kestrels14. Water for Wildlife: Bird Baths

and Backyard Ponds15. Vernal Ponds: Seasonal

Habitats for Wildlife16. Riparian Buffers for Wildlife

Available from county extension office.


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For more information Mid-Atlantic Ecological Landscapes (MAEscapes)

Demonstration Gardens, York County ANNEX, York, PA

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & NaturalResources, Landscaping with Native Plants in Pennsylvania

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, BackyardConservation, 2000

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Native Plants for WildlifeHabitat and Conservation Landscaping Chesapeake BayWatershed, 2003

York County Conservation District, Soil Survey of York

County, Pennsylvania, 2000

Documents

Pennsylvania; Mid-Atlantic Landscaping for Wildlife