Planting windbreaks, shelterbelts, or providing cover to attract wildlife is a common objective for many landowners. Each wildlife species has its own habitat requirements and landowners can attract individual species by planting trees and shrubs to enhance wildlife food and cover. For example, pheasants (and other game birds) are attracted to windbreaks having a fruit-bearing shrub row such as plum or Nanking cherry.

A more complex windbreak design for game birds incorporates a “thicket” planting. The windbreak keeps the thicket free of snow in winter and creates a snow storage area that can be planted with milo, millet, or sunflowers to provide game birds a winter food source and a hidden loafing area. Thicket plantings are usually square in shape with fruit-bearing shrubs spaced 4 to 6 feet apart.

When planting to increase wildlife habitat, decide first which wildlife species you wish to attract. To attract deer and elk, plant tree and shrub species which provide them with a winter source of food and cover. Big game animals seek feeding areas that are out of view of humans and roadways so select planting sites that are near a mature stand of trees. If this is not possible, you may choose to interplant trees and shrubs within the browsing area. Also, when planting to provide a source of browse for wintering deer and elk, protect seedlings from browsing during the first several years; an electric fence enclosure can offer effective protection.

If songbirds and rabbits are preferred, but deer and elk frequent the area, select less desirable browse species or fence the area; otherwise, the planting will be destroyed by excessive browsing.

Learn more in pg. 8 of
Trees for Conservation: Planning, Planting & Care (1.84 MB PDF)

or in Wildlife Values of Conservation Trees and Shrubs (175 KB PDF).

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