Choosing healthy plants can be tricky. If you're looking for plants to put into your landscape that won't be subject to diseases and insect attack, try some of the plants below. This group of perennials is known for having relatively few or no problems with insects and diseases, and will provide beauty and color to your garden or yard, while being low-maintenance at the same time. If you have property along a river or steam or your land has a pond or lake on it, consider putting up nest boxes at water's edge in midwinter. Glen Dudderar, Extension wildlife specialist at Michigan State University, says the ducks start scouting for nesting sites as early as March, so boxes should go up in January or February.
Wood ducks are shy, secretive, small ducks.
A suitable site for a nest box is secluded and fairly free of human activity. The nest also needs to be protected against predators, especially raccoons. Once the local raccoons learn what nest boxes are, they'll look for them. To foil raccoons and other predators climbing up to the box from below, place a metal shield, either cylindrical or cone-shaped, around the tree or post supporting the box. The cone should extend outward at least 18 inches, and the cylinder should be at least 18 inches long.