Now that winter has arrived, I'm on the hunt for the best ways to support wildlife in my yard. Alongside staples like keeping my bird feeder filled up and providing shelter, I've come across some pretty innovative, yet simple tricks. The latest? Placing tennis balls on the lawn.
You may be thinking how does a tennis ball fit into winter wildlife garden ideas? But it actually lends a lot of help to garden birds in winter. Simply put, using tennis balls on the lawn for birds in winter provides a stable, ice-free landing spot for them, in the sea of a slippery and frosty lawn.
In the long-run, this prevents the injury that birds can experience from icy conditions. So, if you have some spare tennis balls, now is the time to scatter them on your lawn.
Why Put Tennis Balls On The Lawn for Birds in Winter?
What many individuals don't realize is that not only does snow risk damage to a lawn, it can also harm birds trying to walk along it.
This is because slippery conditions can cause injury, although their webbed feet make it easier for them to withstand frosty conditions. Not only this, but snow and frost covering a lawn can limit food sources for birds.
This is where placing a few tennis balls (like this pack of tennis balls from Amazon) on top of a lawn comes in.
This nifty hack requires you to simply scatter the balls on your lawn when it has snowed or it's covered in frost, providing dry, non-slippery landing spots for the birds that visit your yard this season.
The tennis balls disrupt the snowy and frosty blanket, offering resting points for birds and a perch to look out for food.
In fact, you could recreate this hack by placing other things on your lawn, too. For example, blocks of wood (from Amazon) or rocks, though the fluorescent yellow color of tennis balls makes it easier for birds to spot.
Just remember to clear away any snow that lands on whatever item you use, otherwise this solution won't be so effective.
As for where to place the tennis balls, the lawn is a main priority, but you should also consider placing these perching spots elsewhere in the yard that birds frequent.
FAQs
Will Leaving Balls on My Lawn in Winter Kill the Grass?
It's true that leaving any objects on your lawn in winter can kill the grass beneath by depriving it of light, essentially smothering the grass. However, if you are putting tennis balls on a lawn for birds in winter only when it has snowed, this is unlikely to do much damage. This is because short periods of snow covering a lawn actually acts as an insulator for grass. You should, however, take care not to walk on frozen grass, which can compact it and damage blades of grass.
Putting tennis balls on the lawn for birds in winter is a small act that can make a big difference for winged creatures during the harshest months of the year. You can also use the below tools to help feed birds in winter:
This pretty solar bird feeder also acts as a lantern, providing some interest for the yard in the darker days of winter. It has a perching ring for birds to sit on and feed with ease.
Use this submersible bird bath heater to stop your bird bath freezing in winter. It has a 48-inch long cord and uses 10W power.
This hummingbird feeder is heated to stop nectar freezing in winter. It's an especially vital tool for those who have overwintering hummingbirds in the yard.
