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Creating a Wild Backyard - Townhouses & Condominiums

Backyard wildlife habitat does not have to be acres and acres of well-landscaped yards. This article is designed to give you ideas on how to turn your townhouse or condominium backyard into a wildlife garden, with helpful tips on how to arrange food, water and shelter elements of habitat for wildlife. Once you've planned your wildlife garden, make sure your wildscape complies with townhouse and condominium guidelines before planting. Songbirds, hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, moths, squirrels, chipmunks, turtles and rabbits are just some of the wildlife species that will visit a townhouse or condominium wildscape.

The landscape drawing was created exclusively for Wild Acres by Melissa Gerber of Gerber Landscapes in Queenstown to help you visualize the concepts behind creating backyard wildlife habitat. Melissa is a landscape designer specializing in landscape plans for wildlife. Accompanying the drawing is a plant list that details each plant's wildlife use, along with a description of the different kinds of food, water and shelter elements used in the drawing. You may notice that some of the plants on the list do not have a wildlife use indicated. When designing your wildscape, some plants may be chosen because they compliment their companion plants or simply because you like them.

Landscape Drawing

Finally, we've included a substitution plant list that will enable you to create and personalize your own wildlife garden. Always be sure of the light, soil and watering requirements of each plant and whether or not those needs will be met in the place it will be planted. Plant nurseries and garden centers are good sources for plant care information. Use organic solutions to insect and disease problems instead of pesticides whenever possible.

Diversity is the Key to Habitat
Most townhouse yards are comprised of grass with very little landscaping. The key to creating excellent wildlife habitat, regardless of the total size of the yard, is to offer a diverse habitat. Small trees and shrubs should form the "backbone" of the garden with lower growing annuals and perennials planted in front. Create a diversity of vertical habitat by planting groundcovers and arbors in addition to trees, shrubs and flowers. These plants form layers of habitat that are attractive to a greater number of wildlife species than if you just planted grass and trees. Also, select plants that do "double duty" in the wildlife garden by serving as food and shelter, which is especially important where space is limited.

How much grass should you keep? If you have children or pets, some grass is necessary. A general rule of thumb is to have 60% or more of your yard area (excluding the house) planted in something other than grass. This townhouse schematic is for the person who wants to retire their mower completely and incorporates a diverse blending of shrubs, annuals, perennials and vines in an arrangement that makes good use of available vertical space. Other vertical components adding dimension to the design include the window boxes, grape arbor, and sweet pea vine growing on the lamp post.

Habitat Elements

Food
Trees, shrubs and flowers represent important food components in the wildlife garden. Plants provide food in the fruit they produce, including seeds, berries, or nuts, or serve as food themselves. Plants should be chosen so that a variety of plants flower and fruit all season, which ensures a natural food supply will always be available to wildlife. Also, keep in mind the fruiting characteristics of plants. Inkberries and yews are dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are on separate plants. If berries are desired as a food component than a male and female must be planted near each other. It's also imperative to prune these shrubs carefully and at the proper time of year to make sure you don't severely prune off your future food supply.

The other plants chosen are annuals and perennials that are excellent sources of nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and moths. After flowering, some selections produce seeds that are enjoyed by songbirds. Be sure to select flower varieties that produce single rather than double flowers because singles are richer sources of nectar. Annuals, as a general rule, flower for a longer period than perennials and can provide vivid colors. Perennials should be chosen so that something is flowering throughout the season. Some of the best bee and butterfly plants are herbs and an herb garden can be planned for the kitchen as well as for butterflies.

Water
Fresh water is probably the most important habitat element that you can add to your wildlife garden. There are many kinds of pedestal birdbaths commercially available. A ground birdbath placed in the garden with a circulating pump and mister may attract shy warblers and is a good choice for yards tat aren't accessible to free-roaming predators. A shallow saucer or dish filled with fresh water does just as well. There are also birdbaths commercially available that can attach directly to porch and deck railings that are just as useful for birds to drink and bathe. A saucer filled with sand and kept wet provides water and nutrients for butterflies too!

Shelter
Evergreen trees and shrubs and bushy or thorny deciduous shrubs can provide shelter for wildlife, even when planted next to the house in a foundation bed. Depending on the shrub, birds may even nest in it. Wildlife need shelter from the weather and safe places to rest and nest away from predators. As shown in the drawing, planting a hedge of cherry laurels near the feeding station provides needed shelter. The same is true for the deciduous shrubs near the bird bath.

The grape arbor provides a nice shady retreat for both you and wildlife. The ivy is a good groundcover for a shaded northern exposure bed and may provide shelter for smaller animals and insects. In addition to these plant components, bird nesting boxes also provide important shelter for many wildlife species to raise their young. Roosting boxes provide safe places for resting and protection from the elements.

Plant List

American Cranberry Viburnum - Deciduous shrub - WB, SH
Asters - Perennial - BN, BC, BEN
Black-eyed Susan - Perennial - BN, BC
Catmint - Perennial - BN, BEN, S
Coralberry* - Deciduous shrub - BN, HN, FB, SH, BC, BEN
English Weeping Yew* - Evergreen shrub - SH, FB
Grape - Perennial vine - SB, SH, N
Hibiscus - Deciduous shrub - HN, ON
Highbush Blueberry - Deciduous shrub - SB, BEN
Inkberry* - Evergreen shrub - FB, SH, N
Ivy - Groundcover - SH
Lavender - Semi-evergreen shrub - BN
Monarda "Cambridge Scarlet" - Perennial - HN, BN, MN
Perennial Phlox - Perennial - BN, BEN, MN, S, HN
Purple Coneflower - Perennial - BN
Red-osier Dogwood - Deciduous shrub - FB, SH, N
Rhododendron* - Evergreen shrub - SH, HN, BN
Sedum - Perennial - BN, BC
Shadbush - Deciduous - SB, SH, N
Swamp Azalea - Deciduous shrub - BN, HN
Sweet Marjoram - Annual - BN, BEN
Sweet Pea - Annual vine - BEN
Sweet Pepperbush - Deciduous shrub - BN

Small Trees
American Hazel - Deciduous - NU, SH
American Holly - Evergreen - WB, SH, N
American Mountain Ash - Deciduous - FB
Chokecherry - Deciduous - SB, SH
Crabapples - Deciduous - WB, SH, N
Eastern Redbud - Deciduous - BEN
Washington Hawthorne - Deciduous - WB, SH, N

Shrubs
Brambles - Deciduous - SB, SH, N
Chokeberry - Deciduous - WB, SH
Euonymous - Evergreen and deciduous varieties - WB, SH
Hollies* - Deciduous and evergreen varieties - FB/WB, SH, N, BEN
Huckleberries* - Deciduous and evergreen varieties - FB, SH
Junipers* (dwarf varieties) - Evergreen - SH
Lilac - Deciduous - BN, BEN
New Jersey Tea - Deciduous - BN, HN
Northern Bayberry - Evergreen and deciduous varieties - FB, SH, N
Pyracantha - Evergreen - FB, SH, N
Roses - Deciduous - WB, SH, N
Spicebush - Deciduous - FB, BC
Spireas - Deciduous - S, SH, N, BN
Sumacs - Deciduous - WB
Viburnums (fertile) - Evergreen and deciduous varieties - WB, SH

Window Boxes
Nasturtium - Annual - BEN
Wax Begonia - Annual - HN
Impatiens - Annual - BN, HN, S
Geraniums - Annual and perennial varieties - HN
Petunias - Annual - BN, BEN, MN, S
Marigolds (genus Tagetes) - Annual - BN, BEN, BC
Button Zinnia - Annual - BN, S
Scarlet Sage - Annual - HN, S
Ageratum - Annual - BN, S

Vines for Railings/Trellises
American Bittersweet - Perennial - WB
Cardinal Climber - Annual - HN
Clematis - Perennial - HN
Scarlet Runner Beam - Annual - HN
Scarlet Trumpet Honeysuckle "Dropmore" - Perennial - HN, ON

Hanging Baskets
Fuschia - Annual - HN
Garden Verbena - Annaul - BN, BEN
Impatiens - Annual - HN
Nasturtium - Annual - BEN
Petunia (cascade forms) - BN, BEN, MN, S
Waxleaf Begonia - Annual - HN

Herbs
Anise - Annual - BC
Bergamot - Perennial - BN, MN
Boneset - Perennial - BN, BEN
Borage - Perennial - BEN
Cretan Dittany - Perennial - BEN
Dill - Annual - BEN, BC
Garden Sage - Annual - BEN
Hyssop - Perennial - BN, BEN
Leadplant - Perennial - BN
Lemon Balm - Perennial - BEN
Lovage - Perennial - BEN
Parsley - Perennial - BEN
Peppermint - Perennial - BEN
Rosemary - Perennial - BEN
Selfheal - Perennial - BEN
Spearmint - Perennial - BN, BEN
Thyme - Perennial - BN, BEN
Winter Cress - Perennial - BEN
Winter Savory - Perennial - BEN
Yarrow - Perennial - BN

Plants for Containers
Ageratum - Annual - BN, S
Amaryllis - Perennial - HN
Annual phlox - Annual - HN, S
Asters - Annual and perennial varieties - BN, BC
Canterbury Bells - Biennial - BEN
China Pink - Annual - HN
Daffodil - Perennial - BEN
Dusty Miller - Annual - BN
Flowering Tobacco - Annual - HN, MN
Garden Balsam - Annual - HN, S
Garden Verbena - Annual - BN
Geranium - Annual and perennial varieties - HN
Gladiolus - Perennial - BEN
Globe Candytuft - Annual - BN, BEN, S
Heath Aster - Annual - BN, BC, BEN
Heliotrope - Annual - BN, MN
Hyacinth-Flowered Candytuft - Annual - BN, BEN, S
Lantana - Evergreen shrub - BN
Marigolds (genus Tagetes) - Annual - BN, BEN, BC
Moss Pink - Perennial - HN, S
Petunia - Annual - BN, BEN, MN, S
Pot Marigold - Annual - BN
Primrose - Perennial - BN
Sander Tobacco - Annual - HN
Scarlet Sage - Annual - HN, BEN, S
Sweet William Phlox - Perennial - BN, MN, HN, S
Wax Begonia - Annual - HN
Zinnia - Annual - BN, S

Groundcovers
Juniper - Evergreen - SH
Lowbush Blueberry - Deciduous - SB, BEN
Sweet-scented Sumac - Deciduous - S

Perennials & Annuals
Ageratum - Annual - BN, S
American Columbine - Perennial - HN, BN
Asters - Annual and perennial varieties - BN, BC
Black-eyed Susan - Perennial - BN, BC
Blazing Star - Perennial - BN, S, HN
Boneset - Perennial - BN, BEN
Butterflyweed - Perennial - BN, BEN, BC
Candytuft - Perennial - BN, BEN
Canterbury Bells - Annual - BEN
Cardinal Flower - Perennial - MN, BEN, HN
Coral Bells - Perennial - HN
Cosmos - Annual - BN, BEN
Delphinium - Perennial - HN, BEN
Dwarf Blue Gentain - Perennial - MN
Fireweed - Perennial - MN, BEN, HN
Fleabane - Perennial - BN
Flowering Tobacco - Annual - MN, S
Four O'Clocks - Annual - MN, S, HN
Foxglove - Perennial - BEN, HN
Gladiolus - Perennial - HN
Goldenrods - Perennial - BN, BEN
Hollyhock - Biennial - BN, BC, BEN, HN, ON
Iris - Perennial - BN
Joe-Pye Weed - Perennial BN, BEN
Larkspur - Annual - HN
Lupine - Perennial - BN, BC
Milkweed - Perennial - BN, BEN, BC
Obedient Plant - Perennial - BEN, MN
Oxeye Sunflower - Perennial - BN
Penstemon - Perennial - HN, S, BEN, BC
Phlox - Annual and perennial varieties - BN, BEN, MN, S
Pot Marigold - Annual - BN
Primrose - Perennial - MN, BEN, S
Purple Coneflower - Perennial - BN
Scabiosa - Annual and perennial varieties - BN, HN
Scarlet Bergamot - Perennial - BN, MN, HN
Sedum - Perennial - BN, BC
Spider Flower - Annual - BEN, S, HN
Sunflowers - Annual and perennial varieties - BN, S
Sweet William - Annual - BN, MN, HN
Turk's Cap Lily - Perennial - HN, ON
Turtlehead - Perennial - BN, BEN

For Additional Information, Contact:
 
 Wild Acres Program
 Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service
 Attn:  Marilyn Mause
 Gwynnbrook WMA
 3740 Gwynnbrook Ave
 Owings Mills MD 21117
 410-356-0941
 E-Mail: customerservice@dnr.state.md.us