Seeds not removed from plants attract birds and other wildlife. Brush piles built from branches offer cover and increased foraging possibilities. Dead and snag trees provide food and essential shelter for a multitude of wildlife. No other natural feature will do as much to attract life to a garden. This type of material is best handled by the high heat of processes of a commercial composting company.
Plants are the foundation of life in the garden.
The gardener who seeks the company of songbirds must remember that their numbers are limited by the availability of plant eating insects, which in turn are limited by the biomass of plants in the garden. If you want more birds, maximize the plant biomass of the garden. Making Connections Let plants grow. Keep the non-invasive ornamental plants you love or that in some way contribute to the liveliness of the garden. The best plants for the lively garden are those that over time would re-create some semblance of the native plant community that grew there before development.