We may tend to become a bit reclusive in the winter, preferring the warmth of the home to the cold outdoors but (most of us) do not completely hibernate. The same is true with many of our wild backyard inhabitants. We tend to ignore the outside of the house during winter — perhaps because it’s not as comfortable to slip out on the porch for that morning cup of coffee and watch the birds play as it was in summer. Winter is the time, however, when many of our outdoor companions need the most attention.

Many of our wild birds do not migrate and they are joined by birds that have migrated from more northern climates. One of the most common of the winter birds is the cardinal. It’s strikingly beautiful red feathers directly contrast the bright white of newly fallen snow. This makes it easier for a predator, such as a domestic cat, to spot it. Evergreen trees and bushes provide hiding places as well as shelter for these unprotected birds.

We can do many things to help our winter birds survive.

Place small heaters in bird baths and fountains.  Find fountain de-icers at our online store.

Keep feeders filled with sunflower seeds for the cardinals.

Place suet out for our woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees.

Plant holly bushes because catbirds, bluebirds and finches love the winter berries.

Do not rake leaves out of the straw islands so birds can build burrows where they can keep themselves warm.

 

Contrary to popular belief, squirrels do not hibernate in the winter. They are like us. They prefer the warmth of their home in the trees. Nature sees to it that their fur grows thicker and, by curling up together during the coldest parts of winter, squirrel families are able to conserve body heat and remain quite toasty. Squirrels provide for themselves by thinking ahead of time and hiding and burying nuts and seeds all around the yard. Usually they over-do it, hoarding much more than they need. If you’ve ever wondered how an oak tree ended up in a flower bed it was probably a squirrel who planted it there.

To make it easier on our furry little fellows we can do several things.

Provide plenty of critter munch especially in fall when they do their gathering.

Provide sandy, easy-to-dig places where they can hide their treasures. Flower beds are a natural choice for them.

They, too, will appreciate a warmed fountain or bird bath.

 

Rose bushes, Butterfly Bush, Crepe Myrtle, Clematis and other similar trees, shrubs, and flowering vines require a once-a-year pruning to keep them healthy and able to produce blooms and fruits for the following spring and summer. It’s best to wait until December or January to prune them. That’s when the “sap’s not runnin’ “ and there’s no loss of nutrients.

Fall is a wonderful time to plant bulbs, especially the early spring bloomers like daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and wind flowers. For best results prepare the bed first by turning and mixing in new soil. A time-released fertilizer specially formulated for bulbs should also be mixed into the soil.

Putting down a 2” to 4” layer of winter mulch is one of the best things you can do for your garden and critters. Mulch puts a barrier between soil and air so the soil doesn’t go through constant fluctuations in temperature. Continual freezing and thawing of the ground causes the soil to “heave”. “Heaving” is the term that is used to describe the ground pushing plants out and exposing tender roots.

Don’t use freshly chopped leaves or grass for mulch in flower or garden beds. This could inhibit the growth of some plants. Instead use a light mulch like pine straw or cypress that will not weigh down the newly emerging plants. Feel free, however, to use whatever you’d like in pine islands and woodland areas where most of your wildlife lives.

Don’t mulch too soon in autumn. You run a risk of smothering plants and encouraging disease. Wait until late fall to early winter after the ground has turned cold but before any major freezes. By waiting you will also discourage any rodents from making their nests in your mulched islands.

Cement and glass are subject to damage during storms and freezing weather. Glass balls and stained glass ornaments can freeze and crack. If water freezes inside any type of cement fixture it will crack the fixture.

Storms are very bad on glass balls because if a globe is not secure on its stand (or if the stand is not secure) it will be picked up and thrown across the yard by high winds. Ice storms cause limbs to fall and Murphy’s Law states that if there is a breakable item in the yard a falling limb will find it. It’s best to take all glass garden art inside for the winter. On that same note, glass hummingbird feeders should also be taken indoors and stored until spring as well as any porcelain planters.

One of the costliest mistakes a fountain owner can do is not protect a cement fountain during winter. No matter how big the cement fountain is or how expensive it was to purchase, if water freezes inside the bowl of the fountain the bowl will crack. It’s not easy to repair and could render the fountain useless. Logistics rule out the possibility of dismantling and taking large fountains inside for the winter. Our advice is to drain the fountain and keep it drained. If it has a plug in it, unplug it and keep it unplugged. If it doesn’t have a plug then drain it and continue to drain it as it refills with rain. Another option is to cover it with a waterproof cover. There are some specially designed for many sizes of fountains. Another option is to keep a de-icer unit in it. If, during an ice storm, however, the electricity should go off the de-icer will be useless. Fountain heaters pose the same problem.

Small cement fountains may be dismantled more easily. Simply take the bowl off and turn it over. This will prevent any water from being able to accumulate and freeze. You can also drain them but remember to keep them drained.

Cement bird baths are the easiest of the statuary to winterize. Simply turn the top upside down. Heating a bird bath is the wildlife-friendly way. Yes, you do stand a chance of damaging the bird bath if the electricity goes off and the water freezes inside the bowl. If you know in advance that you will be experiencing a winter storm that may cause the electricity to go out you might want to turn the bird bath over until after the storm. If a winter storm catches you with your bird bath up at least they tend not to be as expensive to replace as a fountain.

Mexican pottery and terra cotta planters and ornaments do not stand up to freezing temperatures. This includes chimeneas, those decorative Mexican pottery fireplaces that have been so popular lately. If you leave it outside don’t expect it to last through winter. Take it inside or prepare to lose it.