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Planting a Mini Bird Sanctuary

Why plant a mini bird sanctuary? We all know that native canopy trees are essential to songbirds, but planting a tree by itself only helps them so much. Including native plants at the understory, shrub, and ground levels are also important for providing habitat for birds and for the bugs that are such an important part of their diet. Also important is to leave the leaves on the ground where they fall, as that is the home of fireflies, overwintering caterpillars, and many other little critters.

Where should it be placed? 

  • If you have empty lawn in need of shade, plant it in the middle.

  • If you would like to save our streams by stopping stormwater from running off your property, plant it at the downhill edge of your lawn.

  • If you would like to expand the habitat of adjacent woods, plant it along that edge.

 

An easy way to start

  • Obtain small specimens of one native canopy tree and two native shrubs, planted 3-4  feet from each other. For that you would need to first remove an approximately 6’x12’ patch of lawn.

  • Plant them exactly at ground level.

  • Mulch lightly. An area that size will require four bags of mulch, each containing 3 cubic feet. Do not let the mulch touch the plants!

  • If deer visit the area, put up protection. (Click here for suggestions)

  • Consider roping off the area to deter lawn mowers (or put up a solar-powered electric fence set-up to deter deer as well.)

  • Water as appropriate according to the size of the specimens (see below).

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Need help planning your bird sanctuary?

Free site visits by volunteers available from the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance.

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Faith communities 2024 mini bird sanctuary project

 

Volunteers delivered free mini bird sanctuaries  to 14 faith communities in October 2024. Each community removed an approximately 6' x 12' area of lawn and planted a canopy tree (either Swamp White Oak or Blackgum) and either two Hazelnut or two Black Chokeberry seedlings and held a ceremony to celebrate it.

The project was sponsored by Plant NOVA Natives, Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, Fairfax ReLeaf, Fairfax Tree Stewards, McLean Trees Foundation, and Transurban, which provided a community grant to pay for the plants and supplies.

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Why plant small specimens?

It’s true that small plants don’t make much of a visual impact, and they do need to be carefully protected from deer and lawn mowers. But it is stressful to trees to transplant them when older, and small specimens (under an inch in diameter) may need to be watered only at planting time and again a couple weeks later, unless there is prolonged drought. And of course, it is much less expensive!

 

Watering schedule

For specimens under 1” in diameter

Deliver one gallon of water per plant at planting time and again a couple weeks later. No need to water after that unless there is a prolonged drought.

For specimens 1-2” in diameter

1 gallon of water every day for 4 weeks then every other day until established (meaning the roots have grown into the surrounding soil) – usually 1 year.

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