FeederScaping

Wild Birds Unlimited Barrie is Now Booking FeederScaping™ Services and Native Plant Garden Consultations

Whether you are just starting the wonderful bird feeding hobby or want to improve your current bird feeding experience, our fee-based FeederScaping services will help you maximize your enjoyment of feeding and observing birds.

FeederScaping: Services

Our Certified Bird Feeding Specialist™ will come to your home (or other space), evaluate your yard and help you create a plan to attract the widest variety of beautiful songbirds. Our specialist will also provide expert advice to keep squirrels, raccoons and other critters away from your feeders.

Over the years we have provided on site services when customers have inquired about having one of our Bird Feeding Experts come to their yard and make suggestions specific to their space. We are delighted to be offering this exciting service formally as FeederScaping.

Here are a list of services we offer through FeederScaping consultations:

Recommendations on what products to use to attract the birds desired
Recommendations on the placement of pole systems, bird feeders, baths, houses and accessories (we can even bring products to you space to see how they look!)
Ensuring you are getting the most out of your current bird feeding setup
Pole system and product installation
And much more!

FeederScaping: What to Expect

Once we receive your FeederScaping inquiry we will reach out via email (or phone if you prefer) to get an understanding of what you hope to get out of the service (what your goals are) and to set up a mutually acceptable appointment date and time. Appointments are typically scheduled during the week between the hours of 11 am - 2 pm. We offer this service year round, but people typically get the most benefit when they book during months when the ground is not frozen as this is when we can make adjustments to an existing set up or create a new setup. Prior to the visit we will also provide a waiver form to be completed in advance of the visit.

During the site visit our specialist will typically spend 1 hour on site touring your space to understand your needs, provide advice and answer your questions. Our specialists will provide recommendations for your yard, including products (feeders, baths, houses etc.).

Depending on your needs a repeat visit may occur to install products, deliver products, fill bird feeders or assist with whatever else is needed.

FeederScaping: Pricing

Depending on the distance from our store an additional mileage fee may apply. In general, no mileage fees apply if you are within a 30 km (one-way) drive of either WBU Barrie or WBU Newmarket. Mileage fees will be applied above and beyond 30 km’s and will be applied roundtrip. Additional fees may apply to distances beyond a 65 km (one-way) drive of either WBU Barrie or WBU Newmarket.

Bring more joy into your life by using our Certified Bird Feeding Specialist for trusted local advice and FeederScaping Services.

To inquire about FeederScaping Services or to schedule an appointment please email us at [email protected]

Native Plant Garden Coaching

Increasingly over the years we have received requests from people interested in booking a site visit pertaining to native plant gardening, habitat gardening and wildlife habitat creation. We are excited to now be offering Native Plant Garden Coaching. Appointments are available to book April through October.

Native Plant Garden Coaching: What is It?
A one-on-one coaching session with Kristen Martyn an expert in native plant and wildlife habitat gardening (see her native plant gardening bio below). During a coaching session Kristen will provide you with support tailored to your experience needs and goals for your space. Coaching sessions last 60 minutes and are completely personalised sessions.

Native Plant Garden Coaching: Who would benefit?
A native plant gardening coaching session is ideal if you are new to native plant and wildlife habitat gardening or have an existing garden that you would like to convert to a native plant garden. Garden consultations are also ideal for new homeowners who are starting a garden from scratch (a new build home) or have inherited an existing garden and need help identifying existing native plants. Native plant consultations are also ideal for anyone who wants to identify potentially problematic plants (invasive species). The session can also be used to bounce ideas off of an experienced native plant gardening expert, who’s probably already gone through some of the ideas you have for your yard.

Native Plant Garden Coaching: What to Expect?
Native Plant Garden Coaching sessions can be booked either in person or virtually. We always recommend an in person session where possible, however virtually sessions can be particularly productive for gardeners who have dabbled a bit into native plant gardening and want to bounce some ideas off of an expert.

Prior to your native plant garden coaching session you will be asked to provide some information about your space. Once we receive your Native Plant Garden Coaching inquiry we will reach out via email (or phone if you prefer) to get an understanding of what you hope to get out of the service (what your goals are) and to set up a mutually acceptable appointment date and time. Appointments are typically scheduled during the week between the hours of 11 am - 2 pm and are available to book April through October. Prior to your native plant garden coaching session you will be asked to provide some information about your space. You will also be asked to complete a waiver form prior to the session.
During the coaching session we will typically spend 1 hour on site touring your space to understand your needs, provide advice and answer your questions. Our specialists will provide a variety of recommendations for your yard during the visit and we will follow up afterwards with a work booklet to help you on your journey.

In past consultations we have helped:

Provide recommendations on which species of native plants to use in a garden, including conditions that can be perceived “difficult” such as shade
Identify invasive species and potentially problematic non-native plants
Provided recommendations for projects and techniques for success i.e. micro meadows, matrix plantings, etc.
And much more!

Please note, native plant garden coaching sessions do not include a garden design, however you will receive a work booklet with information tailored to your visit and information for you to complete to get to know your garden better.

What’s not included?
Native plant garden coaching is aimed at providing you with answers to questions you have about plants, processes, and your goals for the space. It’s important to understand that the following are beyond the scope and not included within this service:

Detailed garden plans (with precise measurements and plant arrangements)
Construction or installation services
Ongoing maintenance tasks (regular tending to your garden needs- watering, weeding, pruning etc.)
Any advice pertaining to species not native to Canada's Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest, Carolinian Forest, Boreal Forest and the flora of the Midwest, North East and Great Lakes regions of the US, as this is beyond the scope of our expertise

Native Plant Garden Coaching: Pricing
Native Plant Garden Coaching consultations are $125 per 60 minute session (in person or virtually) + 13% HST. There is a discount of $25 off consultation for Daily Savings Club Members of WBU Barrie or WBU Newmarket. For larger yards and properties where additional time is required- after the initial hour, every additional hour is $60 per hour + 13% HST.

Schedule Now!

To inquire about Native Plant Garden Coaching consultations or to schedule an appointment please email us at [email protected]

Kristen Martyn Native Plant Gardening Bio:
Kristen is an avid (and sometimes obsessive) native plant gardener. She began her wildlife habitat gardening journey in 2011 with the purchase of her first home and hasn’t looked back. With great pride Kristen has grown and planted thousands of native plants from seeds (110+ species and counting). Embracing the thrill of a challenge, Kristen enjoys trying her hand at growing specialized and difficult plants. Her current home native plant gardens boast a diversity of over 320 species of native wildflowers, ferns, grasses, sedges, trees and shrubs. Each year along with her family a new garden project is selected to create more habitat for the wildlife in her yard. Kristen’s current endeavors include a 2 acre meadow and wetland restoration, employing a variety of techniques to create new gardens, replacing existing traditional gardens, native cactus garden, native shade gardens, vegetable gardens, and matrix gardens, all while diligently managing invasive species.