Types of bird bath
Hanging
If your garden features a lot of trees with strong and sturdy branches, a hanging bird bath is a nice decoration and they can simply dangle from branch or beam supports thanks to their metal chain hangings.
They are often best for smaller gardens or balconies as a nice additional feature.
Wall-Mounted
Fixed by a bracket to a wall or fence/railings, they help attract wildlife to areas that are perhaps a little less green!
They tend to be quite shallow and small to remain as sturdy and strain-free as possible and so are usually shallower structures that attract smaller birds.
Pedestal/Standing
These are by the far the most common type of bird bath and are most commonly shallow bowls placed on a stand. They usually either come with a wide base which allows them to stand freely on most surfaces or spikes and pegs which help secure them to your lawn.
Depending on their material, pedestals need to find a balance between being light enough to easily reposition in the garden and heavy enough to withstand strong winds and prevent falling over.
Features To Look Out For
Material
Bird baths are most commonly made of metal or plastic resin materials, but can also be stone, ceramic or glass. Plastic materials are often lightweight and easier to move around but can struggle in frosty weather. Stone and metal designs tend to be the most durable and stable.
Design
Of course, it’s nice to attract a variety of pretty birds into your garden, but let’s not pretend that bird baths don’t make seriously attractive garden ornaments too. Make sure to pick a design which helps bring out the best of your plot and that you’ll enjoy for many years to come!
Ease of Assembly
Nobody enjoys reading instructions and spending hours constructing garden furniture and so you want a bird bath with as few pieces as possible so that putting it all together is as near effortless as possible!
Easy To Clean
Unfortunately, rainwater isn’t always a chore saver when it comes to keeping bird baths clean and they can often quickly become covered in seeds, bird faeces and plant debris from your garden. A bath with a shallow dish that’s not too low down is going to be quick and easy for you to clean and the smoother the surface, the less scrubbing involved! Although intricate patterns look pretty, they also mean more nooks and crannies for you to clean.
Weather-proof
As your bird bath is going to spend all of its time outside, it needs to be able to withstand tough conditions, in particular harsh rains, winds and frost! Try and find products which guarantee weather-resistance to ensure a more durable, long-lasting bath.