Backyard Wildlife

How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden

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A wildlife-friendly yard does more than any feeder: it supplies insects, seeds, fruit, shelter, and nesting places.

Start with native plants

Native plants support far more native insects than most ornamental non-natives, and insects are the main food for nestling songbirds. Native oaks, cherries, willows, and goldenrods are among the plants that host the most caterpillar species in much of North America. Use Audubon's Native Plants Database or the National Wildlife Federation's Native Plant Finder by ZIP code.

Build layers

Mix tall trees, understory trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcover. Different species use different layers.

Plant for every season

Spring/summer nectar flowers for pollinators and hummingbirds (bee balm, cardinal flower, native columbine).
Late-summer seeds (coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, sunflowers) for finches.
Fall and winter berries (serviceberry, dogwood, winterberry holly, viburnum).

Leave it a little messy

Leave the leaves in beds; many moths, butterflies, and fireflies overwinter in leaf litter.
Leave seed heads standing over winter.
Keep a brush pile for shelter.

Skip pesticides

Insecticides remove the insects birds need. Tolerate some leaf chewing; it's food.

Add water and nesting spots

See our Birdbath Guide and Bird Houses by Species.

You can certify your yard through the National Wildlife Federation's Garden for Wildlife program. Native wildflower seed mixes