{"id":7547,"date":"2025-10-20T00:19:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T07:19:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/?p=7547"},"modified":"2025-10-20T00:19:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T07:19:22","slug":"berries-which-will-make-your-garden-a-magnet-for-birds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/?p=7547","title":{"rendered":"Berries which will make your garden a magnet for birds"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2025\/10\/20\/07\/09105425-1adc2d11-0466-4403-a548-e266a627887d.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=3%3A2\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"main\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"hydrate-root sc-10wlkbs-0\" data-component=\"SupportNSCNative\" data-loading=\"lazy\" data-theme-name=\"base\">\n<aside class=\"sc-hez36s-0 dFpFuY\">\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-1 iBibVd\">\n<h3 data-testid=\"support-nsc-title\" class=\"sc-hez36s-2 fXvmgM\">Your support helps us to tell the story<\/h3>\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-8 juUDRT\">\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-13 cqPbFA\">\n<div class=\"sc-aja53j-0 rAFIl sc-hez36s-16 jZSKtc\">\n<div class=\"sc-aja53j-6 PdmgT\">\n<div data-testid=\"dropdown-with-gradient-collapsed-content-container\" class=\"sc-aja53j-5 hJPJVF\">\n<div>\n<div data-testid=\"dropdown-with-gradient-collapsed-content\" class=\"sc-aja53j-4 dDhojf\">\n<div>\n<div data-testid=\"support-nsc-collapsed-content-tablet\" class=\"sc-hez36s-7 cUJDWn\">\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 jEZjIj\">From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it&#8217;s investigating the financials of Elon Musk&#8217;s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, &#8216;The A Word&#8217;, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 jEZjIj\">At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 jEZjIj\">The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"sc-1uza6dc-1 gunhQQ\">Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"sc-aja53j-1 keLMOw sc-aja53j-7 eMEmGu\"><span data-testid=\"dropdown-with-gradient-dropdown-tablet\" class=\"sc-aja53j-3 dHXFkr\"><span data-action-type=\"Read more\" class=\"sc-aja53j-2 jrwZqm\">Read more<\/span><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 hUgQwJ sc-culv3z-0 eifaJK sc-a5wy94-0 hyKPon\"><use href=\"#ee6613da15642019\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Growing berry-bearing shrubs and trees is an almost guaranteed way to help birds in the garden stock up ready for winter.<\/p>\n<p>Yet there are some berries that seem to be taken in preference to others, or which certain species of birds prefer, says Adrian Thomas, RSPB wildlife gardening expert.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn particular, birds seem to prefer red berries, but that doesn\u2019t mean that more unusual colours are to be avoided,\u201d he observes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose which ripen to pink, white or yellow may often be those that remain into the middle of winter when birds such as waxwings can be desperate for them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course there is even a British bird that is named because of its association with berries \u2013 the mistle thrush, which adores mistletoe.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be without lots of berry-bearing plants in the garden. To see flocks of birds descend on them in a feeding frenzy is always exciting, and if any of the feast lasts until winter, the chance of attracting redwings, fieldfares or even the rare waxwing is a winter treat for us, too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Different berries ripen at different times, which means that with a bit of careful planning you can provide a staggered feast over many months, starting with juneberry (Amelanchier lamarckii) and going through until spring with ivy berries.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DBDrNPUiVnD\/embed\/captioned\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"sc-wn0aau-1 dZPXBi\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>You can plant berry-bearing shrubs in borders or pots, and some can be trained up trellises, walls and fences.<\/p>\n<p>Five berry-bearing climbers, shrubs and trees that Thomas thinks are indispensable in the garden are:<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Ivy<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The berries have a very high fat content. They also ripen sequentially over a long period right through until spring. You do need to allow ivy to get its \u2018head into the light\u2019 for it to flower well and hence set fruit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Growing tips:<\/strong> Ivy is about the easiest plant to grow \u2013 it\u2019s not fussy about soil (although common ivy does better in alkaline soils)\u00a0 and will grow in sun or shade, quickly covering difficult areas such as dry spots and stabilising the soil. Just don\u2019t put it in an area that is permanently waterlogged.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Hawthorn<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The red \u2018haws\u2019 are a staple in the countryside for all the common members of the thrush family \u2013 blackbird, song thrush, mistle thrush, redwing and fieldfare. Peak consumption is October to December. Their autumn flowers also provide late nectar for insects.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Growing tips: <\/strong>You can grow it as a specimen tree or a hedge in any garden soil in sun or partial shade. Avoid ground which is permanently waterlogged, which could rot the roots. If you are creating a new hedge, plant bare root hedging plants between October and February.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Holly<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CyLN674Igzu\/embed\/captioned\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"sc-wn0aau-1 dZPXBi\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Remember holly bushes are either male or female, and you\u2019ll need a female variety to be sure of winter berries. You may have to plant a male as well for pollination if there isn\u2019t one close by. The red berries are again staples for the thrush family, plus wood pigeons.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Growing tips: <\/strong>Hollies are not fussy about their soil type or situation. All hollies tolerate shade although variegated varieties do better in sun. If you have limited space, go for a self-fertile one which doesn\u2019t need a mate to produce berries, such as \u2018J.C. Van Tol\u2019.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Rowan<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As well as the native rowan, many of the other garden varieties and cultivars are excellent for berries including the pink-berried Sorbus vilmorinii. For the native rowan, peak consumption is in August, ahead of the arrival of the winter-visiting redwings and fieldfares.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Growing tips: <\/strong>Again, it is not fussy, thriving in sun or partial shade, but try to grow it in moderately fertile, humus-rich soil. Pruning isn\u2019t necessary, although you can remove dead branches in winter. While some rowans such as mountain ash can grow to around 6m, you can get smaller ones, such as the yellow-berried\u00a0 \u2018Joseph Rock\u2019, which makes an ideal specimen tree, reaching 4m in 10 years.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Bird cherry<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A native tree of the northern half of the UK, the deep red berries of Prunus padus which ripen to shiny black are small which means that smaller birds such as blackcaps and robins can eat them as well as the thrushes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Growing tips:\u00a0 <\/strong>Ideally plant this deciduous tree in autumn in moderately fertile soil in full sun. It can grow to 15m tall and almost the same in width, so you\u2019ll need a big garden, although you can get more compact varieties such as Prunus padus \u2018Albertii\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it&#8217;s investigating the financials of Elon Musk&#8217;s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, &#8216;The A Word&#8217;, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Growing berry-bearing shrubs and trees is an almost guaranteed way to help birds in the garden stock up ready for winter. Yet there are some berries that seem to be taken in preference to others, or which certain species of birds prefer, says Adrian Thomas, RSPB wildlife gardening expert. \u201cIn particular, birds seem to prefer red berries, but that doesn\u2019t mean that more unusual colours are to be avoided,\u201d he observes. \u201cThose which ripen to pink, white or yellow may often be those that remain into the middle of winter when birds such as waxwings can be desperate for them. \u201cOf course there is even a British bird that is named because of its association with berries \u2013 the mistle thrush, which adores mistletoe. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be without lots of berry-bearing plants in the garden. To see flocks of birds descend on them in a feeding frenzy is always exciting, and if any of the feast lasts until winter, the chance of attracting redwings, fieldfares or even the rare waxwing is a winter treat for us, too.\u201d Different berries ripen&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7547"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7547"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7547\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}