You just can’t beat a yard that’s brimming with birds. It’s good for you, good for them, and good for ol’ planet Earth.

I attract birds to my backyard by planting trees and shrubs that have the fruit, seeds, or berries they love. And while these natural foods will bring birds to your yard, if you want them to linger, be sure to include these in your landscape:

• Birdhouses. They attract bluebirds, chickadees, nuthatches, purple martins, swallows, woodpeckers, and more. You’ll find houses at bird-supply, discount, and hardware stores, and online.
• Feeders. Even though you’ve planted bird-attracting trees and shrubs, having a few feeders in your yard will bring even more fine-feathered friends. Make sure there’s room for at least a dozen birds to perch at one time, and that the feeder holds enough seed so that you don’t have to refill it more than once a day.
• Birdbaths. Birds will drink from just about anything when they’re thirsty. But to really make them happy, set up a birdbath that’s at or near ground level. Keep the water depth shallow to make birds will feel safe when using the birdbath. And look for baths that have multiple depths to attract a wider variety of birds.

To keep your birdbath in tiptop shape—so your feathered friends will keep flocking to it—add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to the water when you refill it. Birds don’t seem to mind the taste, and it helps slow down fast-growing algae. Plus, it’ll help prevent “ring around the birdbath”—those white lines of dried minerals that form inside the basin as the water evaporates.

For more quick and easy ways to make your yard absolutely irresistible to birds, check out my Backyard Birdscaping Bonanza. And my Cleaning Magic! book is filled with terrific tips for cleaning everything from A to Z. And, you can preview them both—FREE for 21 days!