Shrubs to attract Thrushes etc....

[wizzo]

Can anyone advice a complete gardening novice (me), on what, if any, fast growing shrubs, that aren't to fussy about heavy clay soil, that I could plant now and would yield berries this winter. I'm hoping to attract Field fare and Redwing. We have had them visit for the last couple of years, but we never have anything for them to feed on, berry wise. Obviously, if they wont produce any berries this year or early next, it doesn't really matter. Thanks for any advice - Wizzo

[aeshna5]

If you want berries for this winter you'll have to buy plants that are already in fruit. I think you'll have to show some patience as a really large bush will cost a fair bit of money, but should be easy to get some smaller fruiting specimens of say Pyracanthas which are pretty fast growing. Also with the spines they are good for nesting in too.

Other berry bearing bushes include a wide variety of Cononeasters + if you have room maybe a sorbus such as a Rown.

[Tursiops2]

Berries aside, thrushes really like fruit, perhaps you can get damaged fruit from your local greengrocer and put that out over the winter?

T2

[Deb London]

Hi Wizzo,

Fantastic birds.

If you come across this one and it's within your budget, you could do a lot worse:

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...929-post3.html

Deb

[wizzo]

Thanks for the replies everyone and the link Debs. Right I'm off to the garden centre. Tursiops. Good idea about the fruit. I've never given that a thought. Wizzo

[Hedera]

Thrushes and fieldfares always strip my holly bush - its a Jan van Tol self fertilising species; nice evergreen leaves and easy to keep in shape.

[artdemole]

As for fruit,try hanging a wire cage mainly used for fat balls.They work a treat for some birds. Can even be hung on a hooked stick in other bushes or on it's own.

[wizzo]

Thanks again everyone for all of the tips and ideas. It's just occured to me, that I may have posted this thread in the wrong forum. Sorry!!