Gardens that succeed:

• mimic native habitat

• maximize insect life

• provide layered structure

• include accessible water

  
  

When you provide food, water, and shelter that plans for life cycle and survival needs, your garden becomes more than something you look at. It transforms into something that is active, changing, and alive.

Designing a Garden for Wildlife

Think of this as creating different zones within your garden. Just as certain plants prefer shade while others need full sun, birds move between layers depending on what they need at the moment. A garden with only one layer feels exposed. A garden with depth feels safe and usable.

Additionally, according to Becca Rodomsky-Bish from Cornell Lab of Ornithology, research shows that if you get your space to around 70% native plants, you’ll see most of the benefits to birds and other wildlife. [1,2,3]

Building a Layered Habitat

Birds are not primarily attracted to the plants themselves. They are attracted to structural habitat (nesting + cover), insect biomass, and fruit/seed/nectar availability.

Native plants uniquely provide all three simultaneously, and when you incorporate structural diversity, you’ll ultimately attract more species. 

For a diverse garden structure, you’ll want to include these layers:

• canopy (trees)

• midstory (shrubs)

• understory (perennials & grasses)

• groundcover (plant debris, mulch, low-growing vines)

Canopy Trees: The Foundation

Trees provide height, structure, and long-term habitat. Even a single tree can make a difference by offering perching and nesting sites. Native canopy trees also support high insect diversity, which is critical food for birds during nesting season.

Some top Michigan native canopy trees include:

• Oaks (Quercus spp.: white oak Q. alba, red oak Q. rubra, bur oak Q. macrocarpa)

• Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.: downy A. arborea, smooth A. laevis)

• Birch (Betula spp.: paper B. papyrifera, yellow B. alleghaniensis)

• Cherry (Prunus spp.: black cherry P. serotina, pin cherry P. pensylvanica)

• Willow (Salix spp.: black willow S. nigra, pussy willow S. discolor)

• Dogwood (Cornus spp.: flowering dogwood C. florida, pagoda C. alternifolia)

• White pine (Pinus strobus)

• Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

• American beech (Fagus grandifolia)

These trees provide nesting sites, support large populations of insects, and produce seasonal fruits or seeds that sustain birds at different times of the year.

Midstory Shrubs: A Vital Food and Cover Source

Shrubs that produce berries are especially important in fall and winter when other food sources are limited. They also create dense cover that helps birds stay safe from predators.

Great options for southwest Michigan include:

• Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

• Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

• Chokeberry (Aronia spp., black A. melanocarpa, red A. arbutifolia, purple A. prunifolia)

• American cranberrybush (Viburnum trilobum)

• Serviceberry shrubs (Amelanchier spp., where used in shrub form)

• Dogwood shrubs (Cornus spp., especially red-osier dogwood C. sericea)

• Blueberry (Vaccinium spp., especially V. corymbosum and V. angustifolium) 

• Juniper (Juniperus virginiana)

These native shrubs provide high-energy food during critical seasonal transitions and offer protective shelter for birds year-round. [4]

Understory Perennials & Grasses: Great Seed Providers

Many native perennials continue to support birds well after their blooms fade by producing seeds that persist into winter. 

Reliable bird favorites include:

• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

• Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida)

• Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.)

• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

• Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Important Tip: Avoid cutting seed heads back in the fall so birds can feed on them throughout the winter.

Groundcover: Insect and Worm Biomass

Ground level cover and leaf litter is an essential layer in a bird-friendly yard, creating a rich foraging zone where birds can find insects, seeds, and safe shelter. This low, protective layer supports natural feeding behaviors, making your landscape more inviting to a variety of species. 

While plant debris might look untidy, leaving this ground layer in place through the winter until spring soil temperatures consistently reach about 50°F (10°C), typically around May in Michigan, helps protect overwintering pollinators in leaf litter and hollow stems. It also improves soil health, moisture retention, and nutrient cycling as the material gradually breaks down. 

Some Michigan-native groundcovers to consider: 

• Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica)

• Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)

• Canada anemone (Anemone canadensis)

• Woodland stonecrop sedum (Sedum ternatum) 

Additional Nectar Plants: Supports Hummingbirds and Pollinators

To attract hummingbirds naturally, you can also include native plants that produce nectar during the growing season.

Michigan friendly choices include:

• Bee balm (Monarda didyma)

• Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

• Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

• Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) 

• Blazing Stars (Liatris spp.) 

• Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)

Find out more from Michigan State University Extension. They provide this list of native plants that support pollinators and other beneficial insects and includes research-based rankings of how strongly different species attract insect populations, with each plant listing clickable to an individual plant profile and fact sheet. [5]

The Final Puzzle Piece to Attracting Birds

Water is one of the fastest ways to increase bird activity in your garden. Birds need water every day, not just for drinking but for bathing. Clean feathers are essential for staying warm and being able to fly effectively.

Adding movement to water (drips, ripples, or splashing) makes birdbaths far more attractive because birds detect water mainly through sound and visual motion, not still surfaces. This creates a noticeable signal, often doubling or even tripling bird visits as well as attracting several times more bird species than stagnant baths.

Moving water also signals freshness and safety, helping birds trust the source while reducing stagnation issues like mosquitoes and algae. [6]

What Works Best

Birds prefer water that is shallow, no more than two inches deep, and gently moving. Movement can come from a small fountain, a dripper, or a bubbling feature.

Location also plays a big role in whether birds will use your water feature.

Evidence-based spacing guidelines used by groups like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society suggest the ideal placement for your water feature is about 5 - 10 feet (1.5 - 3 m) from shrubs or small trees. 

Much further (over 15 feet from cover) makes small birds feel vulnerable to predators, and too close (less than three feet) can allow predators to hide and ambush birds. [7]

Ready to Make Your Garden Come Alive?

By combining trees, shrubs, and flowering plants, as well as providing a vital water source, you can create a layered habitat that supports birds year round while also adding beauty and seasonal interest to your yard. 

If you are looking for plants that support birds and wildlife or want to explore water features that fit your space, Westside Garden Center has a curated selection of both. Our team can help you choose shrubs, perennials, and grasses that thrive in Michigan conditions while also supporting local wildlife.

Stop in, ask questions, and start building a garden that does more than look good!

REFERENCES

[1] Devokaitis, M. (2026, March 19). To bring birds to your garden, grow native plants: Here’s how to get started. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/attract-birds-gardening-native-plants-insects/ 

[2] Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). Latest research. https://www.gardenforbirds.org/latest-research/ 

[3] CITE: Smallwood, Noriko L., and Eric M. Wood. 2023. “The Ecological Role of Native-Plant Landscaping in Residential Yards to Birds during the Nonbreeding Period.” Ecosphere 14(1): e4360. 

[4] Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Chester County. (n.d.). Gardening to attract birds. Penn State Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/chester/how-to-gardening-brochures/gardening-to-attract-birds 

[5] Michigan State University Extension. (n.d.). Native plants and ecosystem services: Plant facts. https://www.canr.msu.edu/nativeplants/plant_facts/ 

[6] BirdWatching. (2025, July 23). The bird bath trick that doubles your backyard visitors overnight. https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/beginners/birding-faq/the-bird-bath-trick-that-doubles-your-backyard-visitors-overnight/  

[7] Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). Attract birds with birdbaths. All About Birds. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/attract-birds-with-birdbaths/ 

IMAGE CREDITS:

• COVER: Western Bluebird. Image by stephmcblack from Pixabay

• Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia): Westside Garden Center

• Black-eyed Susan (Rubeckia hirta): Westside Garden Center

• Columbine (Aquilegia 'Early Bird Purple'): Westside Garden Center

• Bubbler: Westside Garden Center