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Berry-bearing shrubs and trees provide an almost guaranteed way to support a garden birds Preparing for winter.
But birds display clear preferences, says Adrian Thomas RSPB Wildlife horticulturist.
“In particular, birds like red color JamunBut that doesn’t mean avoiding more unusual colours,” says Mr Thomas.
The berries, which ripen in pink, white or yellow, often persist into the colder months, becoming an important food source when birds such as waxwings are in desperate need.
The deep connection between birds and berries is also reflected in their names, for example, the mistle thrush, which is known for its love of mistletoe.
Mr Thomas says he “couldn’t live without” the garden’s many berry-bearing plants.
“It’s always exciting to see flocks of birds descending upon them in a feeding frenzy, and if a feast lasts through the winter, the chance to attract redwings, fieldfare or even the rare waxwing is a winter treat for us too.”
Different berries ripen at different times, which means with a little careful planning you can provide a variety of feasts over several months, starting with Juneberries (Amelanchier lamarckii) and ending with spring ivy berries.
You can plant berry bushes in borders or pots, and some can be framed on trellises, walls and fences.
The five berry-bearing climbers, shrubs and trees that Thomas considers indispensable in the garden are:
1. Ivy
Berries have very high fat content. They ripen sequentially over a long period until spring. You need to allow the ivy to get its ‘head into the light’ so that it can flower well and thus bear fruit.
Growing Tips: Ivy is the easiest plant to grow – it’s not fussy about soil (although common ivy does better in alkaline soils) and grows in sun or shade, quickly covering difficult areas such as dry spots and stabilizing the soil. Just don’t keep it in an area that’s permanently filled with water.
2. Hawthorn
The red ‘hawk’ is a staple food in the countryside for all the common members of the thrush family – blackbirds, song thrushes, mistle thrushes, redwings and fieldfare. Maximum consumption is from October to December. Their autumn flowers also provide late nectar for insects.
Growing Tips: You can grow it in any garden soil in sun or partial shade as a specimen tree or hedge. Avoid soil that is permanently waterlogged, which can cause root rot. If you are creating a new hedge, plant bare-root hedging plants between October and February.
3. Holi
Remember that holly bushes are either male or female, and you’ll need a female variety to be sure of winter berries. If there is no male around, you may have to employ a male for pollination. The red berries are again a staple food for the thrush family as well as wood pigeons.
Growing Tips: Hollies are not fussy about the type or condition of their soil. All hollies tolerate shade, although a variety of varieties perform better in sun. If you have limited space, choose a self-fertile option that doesn’t require a companion to produce berries, such as ‘Jesse Van Tol’.
4. Rowan
As well as native rowan, many other garden varieties and cultivars are excellent for berries, including the pink-berry Sorbus vilmorinii. For native rowan, maximum consumption occurs in August, preceding the arrival of wintering redwings and fieldfare.
Growing Tips: Again, it’s not fussy, thriving in sun or partial shade, but try growing it in moderately fertile, humus-rich soil. Pruning is not necessary, although you can remove dead branches in winter. While some rowans such as mountain ash can grow to about 6 metres, you can get smaller rowans, such as the yellow-berryed ‘Joseph Rock’, which makes an ideal specimen tree, reaching 4 meters in 10 years.
5. Bird Cherry
A native tree to the north of the UK, the deep red berries of Prunus padus, which turn shiny black as they ripen, are small which means small birds such as blackcaps and robins can eat them as well as thrushes.
Growing Tips: Ideally plant this deciduous tree in autumn in moderately fertile soil in full sunlight. It can grow up to 15 meters tall and almost the same in width, so you will need a large garden, although you can get more compact varieties such as Prunus padus ‘Alberti’.