Gardening & Landscape, Rural life

Types of Bird Feeders

1. Hopper

If I were only able to have one bird feeder in my yard, then I would choose a hopper style. Hoppers are perfect for holding a general mix of bird food that appeals to a wide variety of species. If you were starting to create a bird feeding station, a hopper works well as a centerpiece that you can build other feeders around.

 Hopper feeders are characterized by a seed chamber that continually dispenses food at the bottom as birds eat, along with a functioning roof to prevent water from ruining your seed. Lastly, this feeder style usually provides some sort of ledge on both sides for birds to perch upon, although this is not a requirement as some hoppers have perch bars instead of a shelf.

 2. Tray / Platform Feeders

For a long time, I never included tray feeders in my backyard. I shoved my nose up at them and thought they were too basic. I mean, just pouring some food onto a simple tray? Humans have been to the moon, and this is the best way we have found to feed birds?

Well, I stand corrected. Now I love having tray feeders all over the place, and they are one of the most popular feeders in my yard. They tend to appeal to a WIDE variety of species. Many birds, like Northern Cardinals and Blue Jays, enjoy having lots of space to move around as they eat.

3. Tube Feeders

Tube feeders are what many people picture when they think of feeding birds. As the name suggests, these types of feeders look like a long tube, but with feeding ports and perches spaced out on the tube which allow the birds to eat. Food and seed are filled from the top and slowly lower as it’s consumed through the ports.

Tubes come in all sizes, from very short to extremely long (I have a tube feeder that is 32 inches long and holds 4 lbs. of food!).  The material can be metal or clear plastic, and there can be two feeding ports or twelve.

Tube feeders attract many types of birds, except for larger birds. Because of their size, birds like Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, and Mourning Doves have a hard time landing on the small perches of many tube feeders. 

By adding a tray to the bottom, you provide a place for ALL birds to eat. In a way, you are combining a tube feeder with a tray feeder. The attached tray offers a landing spot for larger birds.

 4. Niger/Thistle Feeders

Niger feeders look very similar to tube feeders, and I almost lumped the two together under one category. In the end, I decided against it because there is one thing that is very different between the two types.

Niger feeders are made only to dispense niger seed.

Because it’s so small, niger seed can fit through openings that other foods can’t, which is why niger bird feeders were developed. Niger feeders are tube-shaped feeders, but the food ports are tiny so that only niger seed can fit through. If you try to put sunflower seeds in a niger feeder, you are going to have some hungry birds!

You may also know niger seed as “thistle,” which it’s sometimes called, even though it has no relation to actual thistle. Niger seed is tiny and black and is popular to use because it’s a favorite food for goldfinches! A few other birds will also eat niger, such as House Finches, chickadees, doves, and House Sparrows.

 5. Suet Feeders

In case you don’t know, suet is the hard fat on the kidneys and loins of cattle and other animals. Birds enjoy eating it because it provides them with healthy fats they need for energy. Suet is especially helpful during cold winter months when insects are not available, which are what most birds eat to obtain their fats naturally.

Woodpeckers are typically the most common birds that appear on suet feeders, but other species also enjoy the healthy fats that suet provides, such as wrens and starlings.

6. Nectar Feeders

The main reason anyone puts up a nectar feeder is simple; they want to attract hummingbirds!

 Watching hummingbirds visit your backyard is pretty cool. These small, colorful birds are full of personality and incredibly unique. It’s no wonder everyone wants more in their garden!

Nectar spoils quickly! You will need to replace it quite often in your feeder, especially during extreme heat.

Make your own homemade nectar by mixing four parts water to one-part table sugar. And don’t use red dye.

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Fruit trees and fruit shrubs, Gardening & Landscape

Mandarins, tangerines, clementine

A mandarin orange is a slightly smaller relative of the standard orange. The tangerine and clementine are varietals of the mandarin, much in the same way gala and fuji are apple varieties.

Mandarins originated in China, hence the name. China is by far the largest grower and consumer in the world, with over 12 million tons harvested each year.

Tangerines arrived in Europe in the 1800’s by way of North Africa, where a large varietal was grown in Morocco. Exported through the port of Tangier, the fruit became known as Tangerine.

The clementine fruit is small and seedless and has become very popular in the US. As it is sterile (no seeds), shoots need to be grafted onto other varietals. This varietal was created by a French missionary in Algeria over 100 years ago. His name was Marie-Clement Rodier.

Nutritionally, all mandarins are similar. For a 50-calorie mandarin, you get 2 grams of fiber, and just over 2 teaspoons worth of sugar. Each mandarin will provide half a day’s worth of vitamin C, as well as multiple other antioxidants.

Compared to oranges, mandarins are easy to peel and separate into individual sections. The clementine, being seedless, are a perfect snack for young children.

DIY Projects, Home Improvement

Front Yard Fence (Why?)

You’ve got a property, and maybe even a front yard, back yard, or both. Nice! Now comes a tricky decision: what about fencing? Surprisingly, one of the hardest choices to make about the exterior of your property is how you want to enclose it. Now decide on the intended function of your fencing, be it for privacy, safety, or for the aesthetic value. What material should the fence be? What style?

picket fence with hollyhocks

1) Why do I want a fence?

The first reason may be the most obvious—if you wish to contain anything inside your property such as kids or pets, a fence will help keep everything in. Or, perhaps you want to increase privacy—nothing keeps prying neighbors out like a fence. Another reason might be that you are worried about security, so you might want something tall. (Check with your city’s zoning to find out the height restrictions—some require a permit for a fence above 6 feet tall.) Or, you might want to simply boost your property value and increase the visual appeal of your yard. Maybe your answer to the first question is a combination of the four reasons, but the reason you want a fence will determine your next steps.

2) What material should I use?

If you’re wishing to contain anything inside your property, then you can use any material, but wire is the most durable. Make sure that you pay attention to containment considerations, though. If you’re trying to keep a pet in, for example, consider that they might dig or jump. Mine could jump 6 feet in his younger years.

Further, if you’d like to increase privacy, wooden fences work best. Wooden fences provide the slimmest picket width and spacing, so their slats or boards are tight together and provide maximum privacy. You could build the fence with half of the panels on one side and the other half on the other providing some air flow. Lattice panels do not. Vinyl fence also will work, however, are not as strong as wood.

Lastly, for those looking for decorative fences, picket fences and aluminum fences can give the yards classy, expansive looks. Embellishing your fence with lattices or ornamental designs can add a lot to your home’s curb appeal!

3) How much time do I want to spend on maintenance?

If you don’t want to spend very much time on maintenance, then consider an aluminum or vinyl fence, as they require minimal upkeep. However, one downside to aluminum or vinyl fences is that they are difficult to repair if they become damaged or broken. If an isolated section needs to be replaced, it may be hard to find the same manufacturer or material that matches the rest of the fence.

Wooden fences require the most upkeep, as the paint should be touched-up or the wood should be stained every few years. Depending on the type of wood you pick, the fence contractor might suggest a stain in order to prevent damage from ultraviolet rays, rot, or bugs. However, wooden fences are also easily repairable, as damaged wooden slats can be swapped for new ones.

4) How much money do I want to spend?

Wood fences, the most popular material, look classic and are also moderately-priced. However, routine painting and staining costs could add up over time. Wooden fences are typically priced at about $20-$50 per foot (only $7- $10 per foot for a plain rail fence) with warranties typically lasting up to 15 years.

Vinyl fences can be constructed from only vinyl, or they could be a mix of plastic and wood. They don’t need painting, so maintenance costs are definitely lower when compared to wood. An estimate of typical cost for installation is about $20-$40 per square foot. Warranties are typically longer than wood, lasting at least 20 years.

Iron and aluminum fences are traditional and can vary extremely in style and design. You can go with a simple wrought-iron look, a tall, pointed enclosure for security, or an ornamental design. Metal fences require almost no upkeep at all. We recommend touch-ups if your fence has eroded metal or rust, however. The typical cost for installation is similar to the other options—the average cost per foot is about $25-$30. Warranties last for at least 20 years.

Wire fences, such as chain link, are the most affordable option, costing only about $10-$15 per square foot. Wire fences also require little maintenance. The warranty life is in between wood and the other materials at about 15 years.

5) Do I have any neighborhood fence regulations?

The last important consideration is more about those around you. Do you have a Homeowner’s Association? Are you living in a new development or a historic district? You might have limitations on location or size, so check with your municipality’s zoning department or local officials!