This Drought-Tolerant Ornamental Grass Will Attract More Feathered Friends

Having an abundance of birds around the home can make your yard a much livelier place to be. Whether you're sitting outside on your patio or you're looking out the window while having your morning cup of coffee, they can be a lot of fun to watch. Unfortunately, not all yards automatically experience a lot of bird activity. However, you can change that with the addition of certain types of bird-friendly plants and vegetation. Consider adding ornamental grasses to your landscape to attract more birds. These grasses can be used in a variety of ways and can be perfect for adding a bit of extra interest to your yard or garden. 

Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) grass, in particular, does a great job of attracting birds. It features a striking blueish-gray appearance that stands out. The ornamental grass can be a great choice if you're trying to boost curb appeal or you're looking for fun plants to grow in your garden that aren't flowers. The dense foliage of this grass helps attract birds since it provides them with cover and nesting material. Birds also like to eat the seeds of blue fescue as well. A key benefit of this ornamental grass is that it's drought-tolerant – it can grow well in climates that are on the drier side.

To successfully grow blue fescue grass in your yard or garden, you should know what its ideal conditions are. Most of all, you'll want to be sure to grow it in full sun and in well-drained soil. Sandy and rocky soil tend to work the best. Blue fescue also grows best in zones four through nine and is one of the best outdoor plants if you live in a dry climate. Although it's drought-tolerant, however, it can still be helpful to provide it with water if conditions are particularly hot and dry. Keep in mind that this grass is also salt-tolerant, so it can grow well in coastal regions. 

There are many ways to make use of blue fescue grass in your yard and garden. You may want to use it for edging purposes or add it to a rock garden. It can also be used for ground cover or simply placed into containers. Blue fescue grass doesn't require much in the way of maintenance. Very little fertilizer is needed, although applying a light amount in the spring can be helpful. However, you may want to trim any damaged or dead foliage that is present once the beginning of spring arrives. This will help promote new growth and will considerably improve the look of the ornamental grass.