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Gourds As Birdhouses
Ever wanted to grow your own gourds to use for making wren, or purple martin houses? Read on to learn how you can make it happen. Grow Your Own Birdhouse by Jackie Carroll Bottle gourds (Lagenaria siceraria) are easy to grow on fences or trellises, and once dried they make an ideal home for purple martins, swallows, chickadees and wrens. Although gourds can be grown in hills as you would grow squash and pumpkin, gourds that are left lying on the ground will flatten on one side and may be susceptible to rot. If you prefer to grow them in hills, provide several inches of hay as a mulch to keep the gourds off the ground. They are completely dry when you can hear the seeds rattle inside when you shake them. To fashion your gourd birdhouse, drill an entry hole 1 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Smaller holes will accommodate small birds such as wrens, while a larger hole will allow larger birds such as martins to take up residence. You should also drill a few tiny holes in
Untreated birdhouses will last up to two years. For a longer lasting birdhouse add a coat of varnish. About the Author: Jackie Carroll is the editor of GardenGuides.com, a leading internet destination for gardening information and ideas. See also Making Gourd Birdhouses Harvesting, Drying, and Painting Create a Backyard Habitat for Attracting Nesting Birds. The Importance of Shrubs, Trees, Bushes for Attracting Birds.
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