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bound to appeal to you, and
many will also appeal to wildlife.
For example, birds love the
berries of Japanese holly, and
butterflies can’t resist the
nectar of the Oriental butterfly
bush. Just be careful not to
introduce exotic plants which
are invasive and have a
tendency to crowd out the
natives.
1/4 Acre Plan
This brochure contains a
wildlife-friendly, landscape
design for a 1/4-acre yard. It will
give you a starting point, but
you are encouraged to adapt it
to your own vision. As we go
through the various elements of
the plan, we’ll point out why
each is important, and consider
alternatives that can fill the
same purpose. We have chosen
primarily native plants. A trip to
your local library or plant
nursery will provide many more
suggestions.
When you are ready to choose
your plants, it’s often best to
start with trees. Their cost will
vary according to their size at
the time of purchase. Once
they’re in place, you don’t want
to have to move them, so think
carefully before getting out the
shovel.
Is the tree appropriate for the
soil conditions and amount of
sunlight. Have you planned for
it’s mature size. Will it crowd
your house or other trees, or
eventually shade that spot
where you had hoped to put a
flower garden. Is it evergreen or
deciduous (losing its leaves in
the fall), and how will that
affect whatever is nearby. Are
you interested in flowers, fall
color, or the consistency of
evergreens.
In our 1/4-acre plan, the
lower right corner shows a
windbreak of Colorado blue
spruce. Used properly, an
evergreen windbreak can fulfill
many functions. It will screen
off an undesirable view and/or
give you privacy throughout
the year.
Spruce is a Favorite
Birds and small mammals love
the spruce for food, nesting,
and winter shelter, especially if
the branches are allowed to
grow to the ground. If
positioned correctly (usually to
the north), they will indeed
break the path of the wind and
keep your home warmer in
winter. For visual interest, it’s
especially nice to combine
1/4 Acre Habitat Design
