suitable plants for two new aviaries..

[venetta]

So we're in the midst of completing our new aviary and wanted some ideas of suitable plants, as we plan on planting it out...

We have a 1x3m section for the elegants and 5x3m section for the finches..

I'm wanting grassy plants with lots of green if possible.. I don't want to use purple fountain grass too much, as the aviary is a bit of a dark red colour already..
I'm not sure about planting guinea grass in there or not, cos I don't want it to overtake the whole thing... Lol

Any suggestions are much appreciated!

[Pete Sara]

grasses will atract mice especially the guinea, best leave that in pots or plant out side and harvest when needed. as once mice get in to grass its hard to get the buggers out.

What will you be keeping in the way of finches in there, some like to chew and strip plants to bits....Pete

[GregH]

Pottia is correct about creating habitat for mice but if you've carefully constructed your aviary you may be confident about that aspect. There are a few things you need to consider when selecting plants:
1) how much sun does the site receive?
.few grasses grow in deep shade
2) what soil type to you have?
.sandy soils will be hard to keep moist and limit the species list and if exposed to windy conditions tall species may lodge (fall over)
3) what is the purpose of having the grass?
.seed
.habitat
.nesting material
- if you keep weavers they will destroy your grasses so they are better off in pots and the best nesting for them is not the best green seed
4) how much of a foot-print are you prepared to give the plants?
.if you keep ground-dwelling species (eg painteds or quail) they need open space
.some plant species rapidly spread (run) while others from dense clumps
5) what is your desired height for the plants?
.the size of your aviary will determine how you use them
- if plants are too tall and take up the front of the aviary you won't see into it
- larger aviaries will allow you to use different species and plant in scattered areas
3) do you want annuals or perennials?
.if this is to he your primary source of green seed how heavily stocked will the aviary be
.annual grasses will provide more seed but for a shorter time
-are you able to exclude birds from part of the site so you can sow and ripen successively thus extending the season

I know I haven't answered your question but all of the above are what I'd consider if you want to elaborate?

[Tiaris]

Swamp foxtail grass (Pennesetum I think??) makes an attractive tussock which is low to medium height and contained habit to its tussock-shape which is very useful for an aviary grass. Some of the larger Poa species also hold their neat low shape well and produce useful seed heads. I think the lower growing tussocking grasses are better finch aviary plants than most of the taller and rambling species which need to be constantly trained, trimmed & contained to stop them falling all over your aviary. I have a wide variety of grasses growing in my aviaries & contrary to what I initially thought before planting them out, the birds by far prefer the lower growing ones over the taller panics, palm grasses, etc for nesting purposes. Given a choice of grasses, brush, baskets & boxes most of my Red-faced Parrotfinches, Orangebreasts, Stars, and Painteds show a distinct preference for the low growing grasses over other sites (as did my Red Strawbs when I had them). So to do Pictorellas, Maskeds & Plumheads but they are well known grass-nesters anyway. What I have said relates mostly to estrildid finches. If you are planting out an aviary for any of the weavers, I presume the taller species would be more useful.

[venetta]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

We're not entirely sure of what is going in there just yet.

Most likely cordons, maybe some gouldians, double bars, sea greens or rfpf...
We've got pretty sandy soil, and the majority of the aviary is covered, with a couple of sheets of laserlite to let in a bit of light, but obviously not exactly the best light for plants..
The front of the aviary will be what gets the most direct light in the afternoons, though it will also be shaded by the tree in our yard also...

I guess we'll take a trip down to a native nursery (probably Lullfitz) on the weekend and have a look around!!

[spanna]

I was down at lulfitz's last week, they had a good lot of plants, but not too many low fine grasses, which was what I was looking for. Zanthorea nursery at the base of the hills have a good selection of natives, but I haven't been there in a few months so not sure what's in stock. They are more expensive than lulfitz too!!

[venetta]

Yeah a workmate said she loves to go to zanthorea but it was expensive.. Thats why i was aiming more towards lullfitz...

Now I don't know what we should do! Haahhaa.. Maybe it will be a whole day trip taking in both nurseries... lol

[spanna]

If you take roe hway then you should be able to get to both without much trouble. Zanthorrhoea is just a little way off kalamunda road, and at the other end of roe hway (out my way) is lulfitz.

[venetta]

Oh I was thinking of the lullfitz on Thomas Road in Oakford!!! Hahahaha

Didn't even realise there was another! HAha

[spanna]

I didn't know there was one in oakford as well!!! They may have more of the grass species.... If only the drive were less than an hour I would go check it out!!!
I was wondering why the online catalogue of species seemed so much larger than what I saw available the other day!