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Brought to you in cooperation with the Kansas State University Johnson County Research and Extension Master Gardeners. Each week we feature interesting topics for winter reading. |
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Winter Wisdom
Among the
evergreens, two stand out because they both provide good cover, and one
provides winter food, as well. Eastern Arborvitae, Thuja orientalis, is
attractive and provides good structure for nesting. The second is Eastern
Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana, It also offers good nesting sites and
edible berries that persist through the winter. Because this hardy native
hosts fungus which forms Cedar “apples”, do not plant these near apples or
crabapples to prevent Cedar Apple Rust.
Other fruit-bearing shrubs that grow well here are the Choke Cherry, Golden Currant, Dewberry, and the bush Dogwoods like Cornelian Cherry, Gray Dogwood, and Swamp Dogwood. All of these were selected for their hardiness, their vigorous growth under local conditions, their excellence as food sources and for the cover they provide for shelter and nesting. Please contact your County Extension service for a complete listing of trees and shrubs that attract songbirds and wildlife. Articles submitted by Bill Latimer, Johnson County Extension
Horticulture Assistant and Dennis Patton, Johnson County Extension Horticulture Agent. * Winter Wisdom is an information service of the Kansas State Johnson County Research and Extension Master Gardeners. Research-based responses are provided by Extension Master Gardener volunteers weekdays from March 1 through October 31, from 9:00 am to 4:30pm . To telephone, call (913) 764-6306 or visit the Extension Office at 13480 South Arapaho Drive, Olathe, Kansas. Visit their website at www.oznet.ksu.edu/Johnson
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Winter
Wisdom
As
people are planning for additions to their landscapes, we receive requests
for the names of trees and shrubs that do well here, and which encourage
visits by songbirds and wildlife. K-State Research and Extension publishes
such a list, and the following suggestions are excerpted from it.
Shrubs
sometimes provide dense cover for protection and nesting, while many
supply food as well. Among these are the wild and domestic Elderberry,
Sambucus, Gooseberry, Ribes, Raspberry, Rubus, and Plum, Prunus species.
These flower in the spring and fruit in the fall. Some of this fruit will
persist into the winter and makes a welcome addition to the avian diet.