Molded Rubber Mulch can be an Alternative to Re-Mulching with wood
Never thought about it this way? Well, as we stay up to date in the green world,
we like to do the same for you.
From a customer of ours to you; bird feeders with tree rings at the bottom are shown in the picture. Rubber Mulch Tree Rings are an amazing alternative to mulch if you have concern for maintenance and cleanliness around bird feeders. Rubber Mulch versus wood mulch, rubber will repel bugs and predators as well as:
• Contains at least 80% recycled tire rubber
• Virtually halts weed growth
• Allow water and nutrients to pass through mat to underlying soil
• Acts like mulch but without the hassle
Adding Rubber Mulch below your bird feeder will do some great things as you redesign your garden. Rubber Mulch Mats come in plentiful sizes. We have tree rings and even pour in place that might fit an oddly shaped project that’s difficult to reach to re-mulch often. Thinking about adding a bird feeder to your garden? Perfect we did a bit of digging and found this for you to check out. Don’t forget, bird feeders and rubber mulch tree rings go hand in hand with the project. Pick a bird feeder first and then come back to conservastore.com and pick up your 4-in-1 kit or a 48in tree ring and begin your DIY project!
Did you happen to know the benefits of bird feeders in your garden?
Many of us around the world have set up bird feeders in our backyards, providing year-round nourishment for wild birds. In exchange, as wanna-be naturalists, we get to witness nature up close and enjoy the company of backyard inhabitants who otherwise would remain hidden in the treetops.
Some take it a step further and set up several types of feeders and a water source, and plant natural, native vegetation in our gardens. When we take the time to transform our yard into a backyard bird habitat we create an ideal mini-ecosystem in which nature can flourish. Within these sanctuaries, birds can safely and reliably find the things they need to stay happy and healthy.
Along with the birds come other critters. The local chipmunk and squirrel populations usually enjoy a well-stocked feeder as well, often much to the chagrin of the property owner. It’s hard to imagine the number of animals that must benefit from this feeding arrangement.
Making our backyards as bird-friendly as possible seems, on the surface, a smart ecological decision, and one of the easiest things we can do to set right some of the damage we bumbling humans have done to this planet. When
we bring back native plants and encourage the proliferation of natural systems, at least on our little plot of land birds benefit. We benefit by getting to witness many common songbirds, and nature as a whole benefits.
Other Facts
Do Feeders Encourage Predators?
Bird feeders are known to attract critters besides birds, and some of them aren’t there for the seed. Housecats may set up shop around a bird feeder, waiting for lunch to fly by. Hawks may see feeders as a place to grab an easy meal.
These are serious problems, but there are a few things we can do to alleviate them. The overhead cover gives birds a sense of security, and an easy escape route should trouble emerge. However, bushes, gardens, and small trees can also serve as the perfect ambush spots for cats and other predators.
The house cat issue is a serious one, as cats kill millions of songbirds every year. They have negatively impacted bird populations in many cases, at least regionally. The problem is ultimately solved when pet owners decide to be responsible and keep their cats indoors, but until then the best most bird enthusiasts can do is keep an eye out for trouble.
Hawks and other predatory species can be a similar issue. A hawk may one day realize that a bird feeder is providing easy access to birds he’d normally have to work hard to find. Again, removing the bird feeder in this situation and encouraging the hawk to move on is the best solution. In conclusion, be mindful of the things you place around your bird feeder as well as the fluffy ones you call Fido. Make sure the bird have somewhere safe to land and enjoy the beauty as well as nourish themselves.
Last Word…
As you are beginning to get your garden all together; also think about the project as a whole. Here are some quick tips to achieve a professional-looking garden design.
- Use a variety of flower types, for texture and visual interest.
- Planting a variety of flower forms also helps create a resilient garden and will help to support a wide variety of pollinators. Include…
- Daisy-type Flowers (Such as Daisies, Coneflowers, Rudbeckia)
- Flowering Spikes (Penstemon, Agastache, Salvia)
- Flower Sprays (Heuchera, Columbine, Diascia)
- Mounding Flowers (Lavender, Nepeta, Coreopsis)
- Flat-Topped Flowers (Yarrow, Milkweed, Sedum)
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- Always mix in Ornamental Grasses and Shrubs for structure, texture, and movement. Ornamental grasses and shrubs are a cornerstone of habitat-friendly gardens.
- Plant for long-lasting color. Perennials usually bloom for a month or so; in early spring, late spring, summer and/or early fall.
- Use larger groupings of plants to keep the look more restful to the eye.
- Planting just one or two of a large number of plants can lead to the planting look chaotic and unfocused. In large plantings, repeat groupings of plants more than once to create a more cohesive design.
- Choose plants with a variety of heights – short, medium, and tall – to add variety and avoid monotony. Plant the tallest plants toward the back and shorter plants toward the front of your arrangement, so that you’ll be able to see each plant.
- Space plants according to their mature size, not the size they are in the pot. This is an all too common mistake, which leads to crowding and extra maintenance as the plant matures. It’s also important to make note of which plants will naturalize and spread, and which plants will stay more controlled. Some plants are easy to transplant or divide when they fill in and get crowded, but other plants, like Peonies and Milkweed, have deep root systems that do not transplant well.
- Use lots of groundcovers. Groundcovers knit a planting together. Not only do they look better than mulch, they also provide additional benefits, such as attracting pollinators or bringing fragrance and color to the garden.
- Use some evergreen plants, Ornamental Grasses and Shrubs, and other plants with interesting seed heads, such as Coneflowers and Milkweed, to keep the garden interesting in the dormant seasons.
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