A Guide to Landscaping with Wildlife-Preferred Trees & Shrubs

Trees and shrubs native to your region provide several benefits for both wildlife and people. These plants attract pollinators, songbirds, butterflies, amphibians, small mammals, and larger animals such as deer.

In addition to providing habitat for wildlife, trees also help with erosion control on slopes or hillsides. They also increase property values by creating a natural look in the landscape. If you would like to learn more about landscaping with wildlife-preferred trees and shrubs, then please check https://wildtree.co/.

One of the most important aspects to consider when landscaping your yard is planting trees and shrubs that will attract wildlife.

Wildlife-preferred trees and shrubs offer a habitat for birds, mammals, insects, amphibians, and reptiles, which can be beneficial in reducing pest populations on your property.

In recent years, many homeowners have been taking steps to plant wildlife-preferred trees and shrubs in their yards. These plants are beneficial for the environment, but they can also improve the aesthetics of your yard! This blog post will explore different types of wildlife-preferred trees and shrubs that you may want to consider planting in your own yard.

One important consideration when choosing plants is the size of your yard. Small yards may not have room for a large tree, but many smaller trees can be used to provide food and cover for wildlife.

Some of our favorites include:

-serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) – small tree

-redbud (Cercis canadensis) – small tree

-dogwood (Cornus spp.) – small tree or large shrub

-winterberry (Ilex verticillata) – small tree

-fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatice) -large shrub

-astern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) – large shrub

-eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) -large tree

For larger yards, homeowners can select a variety of trees and shrubs that will provide food and cover for wildlife.

Some of our favorites include:

-American beech (Fagus grandifolia

-American holly (Ilex opaca)

-black cherry (Prunus serotina)

-northern red oak (Quercus rubra)

-pin oak (Quercus palustris)

For homeowners that are not looking to plant trees or shrubs but still want their yard to attract wildlife, we recommend low-growing native groundcovers and perennials.

Some of our favorites include:

-wild ginger (Asarum canadense) – shade, woodland understory plant

-eastern violet (Viola sororia) – sun to partial shade; May -July blooms attract bees & butterflies

-cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) – sun to partial shade; August -September blooms attract hummingbirds

-Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum) – sun to part shade; late summer into fall flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators

The Final Word

Wildlife-preferred trees and shrubs provide food, cover, or other habitat features. They also tend to be native species. With their habitat needs in mind, homeowners can create beautiful landscapes for people as well as wildlife by selecting the right plants for their yards!

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