A row of wild shrubs is quickly becoming a land of happiness, especially for birds.Overgrown plants provide winged visitors with safe accommodation and food, as well as protection from rain, wind and sun.Insects and larger animals, such as squirrels, hedgehogs or rare dormice and dormice, also eagerly use such amenities. In autumn, numerous small fruits of the shrubs hang from the branches and are eagerly eaten by various animals.
Freely growing wild hedges occupy quite large areas, but they perfectly support nature protection.Many insects, birds and small mammals largely replace their natural habitats, taken away from them and destroyed by today's large-scale agricultural crops.In European cities, the number of wild animals still living here has been increasing for some time.For example, Hamburg recently counted over 160 species of nesting birds and nearly 50 species of mammals that are native here.
When choosing shrubs for our wild hedge, it is worth noting that birds and other animals can also use alien species, imported from other regions of Europe or the world. Of course, the advantage lies with the native plants.Observations have shown that our local shrubs provide food for about 21 species of birds, while the imported ones provide food for only four.
Another distinguishing feature is the size of the plants. Our gardens today are not very extensive. Therefore, small shrubs that fit into an average garden are valuable.The choice is not large, so it is worth mixing them with more magnificent species. Small sizes reach, among others dwarf guinea fowl Viburnum opulus 'Compactum', Lonicera xylosteum and black Lonicera nigra, red chokeberry chokeberry arbutifolia and black chokeberry melanocarpa, as well as some wild rose species. We should remember that the fruits of rose hips and other wild shrubs can be used in the kitchen, and some, such as strawberries, are also tasty when raw.
Fruitful shrubs for the backyard garden
Wild shrubs grow very well in normal garden soil in full sun or shade. The area for this group is approximately 8 x 4 m.
1. The Coral Viburnum Viburnum opulus bears red fruits, well-known and liked by many species of birds. The bush is 2 to 4 m high and wide.
2. Privet Ligustrum vulgare has fragrant flowers attracting bees and black fruit eagerly eaten by birds.
3. Amelanchier ovalis is tempting with sweet fruit already in June. It grows to a height of 2-3 m. It is decorated in nice autumn colors.
4. Common barberry Berberis vulgaris bears the sour fruit that birds like and is also popular in oriental cuisine. It is 1-2 m high.
5. Rosa canina wild rose provides excellent shelter for birds not only during nesting. It also produces delicious fruit. It grows to a height of about 3 m.
Low plants under shrubs
Free-growing shrubs very often lose their leaves in the lower parts of the shoots much faster than in the case of molded hedges.Therefore, it is a good idea to plant them with ground cover plants, such as hugs Galium odoratum, Lamium galeobdolon and Lamium maculatum, or a mixture of other low semi-wild perennials. With a little luck, the plants will form a lush forest border under the bushes.
Recommended plants
1.A wild hedge becomes a cozy, shady place on hot summer days.Against the green background of leaves, the red berries of the Viburnum opulus coral viburnum are perfectly visible.
2. The hawthorn Crataegus monogyna is liked by both insects and birds. Reaching a height of 7 m, the bush provides its winged visitors with food and protection. Hawthorn is pruned very well.
3. The female blackbird looks for the best ripe fruits of the mountain ash.The bitter ovoids of the rowan Sorbus aucuparia are also enjoyed by starlings, waxwings and squirrels.Frozen, they are perfect for homemade preserves and tinctures.
4. The bright yellow berries of the 'Xantocarpum' coral viburnum enrich the color palette of the fruit of wild shrubs, but the birds prefer red berries.
