How to Plant Bushes That Attract Birds

 Nothing says summer has arrived quite like the sounds of birds, calling musically to one another. Certain plants, bushes and trees attract various birds by providing food or a sheltering habitat. In addition, the correct placement in your yard can lure the beautiful feathered creatures so you can enjoy watching them

• Step1

Choose bush varieties that produce berries. With colorful little orbs of nutrition, berry-producing bushes, such as blueberry, blackberry, bayberry and currant are favorites of many different varieties of birds. Studies show that migratory birds will remember a plentiful feeding area and return to it the next year.

• Step2

Plant seed-producing bushes to supply a winter food source for birds that don’t migrate to the South in cold weather. Depending upon the climate zone where you live, there may be birds that will stay when the temperatures drop. Butterfly bushes produce thousands of winged seeds that carry on the breeze, providing an ample supply of winter food.

• Step3

Grow bushes that provide protection against predators. Wild plum varieties, quince and currant bushes offer a dense habitat with prickly branches to deter unwanted visitors.

• Step4

Arrange your bush plantings to complement other plants, trees and foliage to attract more birds. Annual seed-producing flowers, such as the sunflower, when planted in an area protected by bushes, will lure more birds to your property.

• Step5

Brighten up your yard with bushes that feature colorful red flowers to attract hummingbirds. A favorite of backyard gardeners, the much-sought-after hummingbird seeks out red bell-shaped flowers where he can collect the sweet nectar.
 

How to Build a Tumbling Composter

 Composting is a great way to take leftover organic material from your household and use it in your yard and garden. To keep the composting process moving, it is important to keep the decomposing materials turned over. It’s a relatively simple matter to build a tumbling composter to make that job easier.

• Step1

Gather your supplies. Choose a barrel with the lid and bottom intact.

• Step2

Drill a two-inch hole in the center of the top and bottom of the barrel. Also drill a hole large enough to pass the piece of rebar through in one end of the pipe. Pass the piece of pipe through the barrel.

• Step3

Mark a rectangle on the outside of the barrel large enough to make an opening for the composting material. Cut out the rectangle being careful not to disturb any of the plastic on either side of the mark.

• Step4

Add two hinges to one side of the door opening of the tumbling composter. Put a hasp closure on the other side.

• Step5

Cross two 2x4s to make an X. Nail the crossed pieces securely. Make a second, identical X.

• Step6

Measure two lengths of 2x4. The length should be longer than the height of the barrel plus a couple inches. Nail these two pieces of wood from one foot of the X to the other to form a brace. Brace the other foot with the other piece of 2x4.

• Step7

Set the barrel and pipe into the top part of the wooden frame you just built. Slip the piece of rebar through the hole that you drilled earlier. Use the rebar as a handle to turn the tumbling composter.