Bird feeders are a great addition to a garden as they attract an array of birds. It can be quite a treat to step out into the yard and enjoy watching the birds, but the bird seed that inevitably falls on the lawn can be damaging.
Bird seed is bad for grass because most seeds sprout and grow into weeds. These weeds spread quickly and can take over your lawn if not removed. Birdseed also attracts other pests to the yard that can destroy your grass.
Why Birdseed Is Bad For Your Grass
Most commercial seeds are mixed with filler seeds that birds don’t like and often discard.
The birds pick out the seeds they enjoy eating, and fillers like red millet and sorghum end up on the ground.
It doesn’t take much time for these fillers to grow into weeds.
Another problem with spilled bird seed is that it can attract other pests to your garden. Birdseed is a good food source for rodents like rats and voles.
As the birdseed sprouts and grow into weeds, it can attract insects and worms.
The thick weed infestation creates the perfect coverage for moles and voles to burrow under.
Moles are also drawn to the worms and insects since this is what they eat.
The moles and voles burrow underneath the lawn creating tunnels and pushing up mounds of soil, which uproots the grass and can look quite ugly.
Try These Useful Tricks to Keep Your Grass Beautiful
While bird seed can destroy your grass, it doesn’t mean that you should remove the bird feeder or that you have to stop feeding the birds if you’d like to preserve your lawn.
You can keep your grass intact while still attracting birds to your yard by making a few changes, such as the following:
- Move the bird feeder onto a paved area.
- Attach a seed catcher to the bird feeder.
- Change the type of bird seeds you put in the bird feeder.
- Grow plants that attract birds.
Move the Bird Feeder Onto a Paved Area
The simplest thing to prevent bird seeds from falling onto the grass and then sprouting is to move the bird feeder to an area that’s not grassed.
A patio or paved area that birds can easily access is ideal.
If this is not an option, consider creating a rock garden under the bird feeder by placing large rocks or pavers on the grass underneath it.
It will be much easier to spot fallen seeds and clean them up before they get onto the grass and sprout.
If rock gardens aren’t your thing, you can still use pavers to create a pathway or feature under the bird feeder.
Attach a Seed Catcher to the Bird Feeder
When you buy commercial bird seeds, it’s usually a mix of different seeds that might contain seeds that some birds don’t like.
When birds come to feed, they push the seeds they don’t like out of the feeder.
To stop seeds from falling onto the grass, attach a seed catcher to the bird feeder to catch the seeds that fall out.
A seed catcher is a tray that fits under most bird feeders.
The tray should be slightly bigger than the bird feeder and must be cleaned out regularly.
Change the Type of Bird Seeds You Put in the Bird Feeder
Commercial seeds contain fillers like sorghum and red millet that many birds don’t like, which end up on the grass.
While these seeds are usually cheaper, you’re not actually saving money if half of them are wasted and cause your grass to be damaged, which will cost money to restore.
Consider other options instead of the regular commercial bird seeds you buy. A good option is no-waste bird seed, also called mess-free or low-waste bird seed.
Unlike commercial bird seeds that are minimally processed and can still germinate, no-waste bird seeds are pre-hulled, so they don’t grow when they’re in the ground.
This option is more expensive, but you won’t get any weeds in your grass, and birds are less likely to waste these seeds.
Another option is to sterilize the bird seeds yourself.
When you sterilize seeds, you use heat to kill them so that they don’t germinate when they fall on the ground.
You can sterilize any seeds you have by baking them in the oven. To sterilize the seeds, preheat your oven to 250˚F and spread the seeds onto a baking tray.
When the oven is hot, place the tray in the oven and bake the seeds for about 15 minutes.
If you’re observant or have a keen interest in birds, learn about what seeds the birds that visit your garden like and only put out those seeds.
When buying a commercial seed mix, remove the seeds you know the birds don’t like and discard them.
This is probably a painstaking process, but it will help alleviate the mess caused by the seeds tossed to the ground.
Grow Plants That Attract Birds
Instead of using bird seeds to attract birds to your yard, why not create a beautiful landscape that they will be naturally drawn to?
It may seem daunting, but it’s easier than it looks. Find out about the birds that are native to your region and consider the types you’d like to attract to your garden.
Then plant things that these birds like to feed on or act as a habitat for them.
For example, Robins like tall trees, whereas Goldfinches favor shrubbery.
Birds are more likely to spend a longer time in a garden with plants they like rather than just bird seeds.
When choosing plants, opt for ones that provide food all year round so that you attract birds in both summer and winter.
Alternatively, look for a mix of summer and winter plants.
Creating a landscape that attracts birds can be a better option than putting out bird seeds.
This way, you get to enjoy a beautiful garden with various plants, flowers, trees, and shrubs and marvel at all the different birds that visit and linger in your yard.