Attract robins to your garden this spring with gorgeous plant that's easy to care for
An expert has shared how to attract robins to your garden this spring with robin-friendly plants and shrubs, food and water.
Birds need assistance throughout the year, whether that means offering them nutritious food to eat or water to bathe in. This is particularly crucial during the spring months when UK birds are building nests, laying eggs and nourishing their chicks.
Robins are one of the UK's most beloved birds, and while they are a welcome sight all year round, they tend to become more prominent in spring. This is because their diet changes and they depend more heavily on insects, worms and spiders, commonly found in lawns. According to one expert, drawing them to your garden is surprisingly straightforward.
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James Ewen, gardening expert at Green Feathers, said: "Robins are a favourite of mine, and it's always a pleasure when one pays you a visit.
"People think luring robins is an impossible task, and while they can be a rare sighting, when you know, you know.
"Considering their basic needs and comfort- food, drink, nesting opportunities, shelter and their most-loved plants and shrubs can go a long way."
Shrubs
For those hoping to entice robins, planting dense shrubs, hedges, and climbing plants is ideal. These provide refuge from harsh weather conditions and protection against larger birds.
The gardening expert said: "A top choice for attracting robins and other songbirds is a serviceberry tree, known by many names, including juneberry."
Its fruit ripens from late spring through to summer, supplying robins with a consistent source of soft, energy-rich berries.
Food
Understanding what robins prefer to eat is crucial. They love food, and offering mealworms and earthworms is an excellent starting point. According to the expert, supplying these will ensure robins "keep coming back".
Fruits, such as apples and pears, can also provide a valuable source of fibre and vitamins for robins. They can help with digestion and maintaining healthy feathers and eyes.
Water
Robins need water for hydration and bathing, like many birds. Keep a shallow bird bath filled throughout the year, or place a small dish close to shrubs.
The expert said: "Robins prioritise safety, so positioning water by shrub shelters them from predators. Never underestimate how important water is for robins to bathe in.
"Providing a place for robins to bathe keeps their feathers clean and free from parasites, and they also make their feathers more pliable when they bathe, allowing them to fight more efficiently, thus getting away from predators more effectively."
