Stop Birdseed From Sprouting In Your Yard | Mowbot

The melodic call of birds in the morning is a great way to wake up. They are chipper, busy little creatures, whistling the day away as they search for food and care for their young. Many homeowners provide a food source for the birds in their area, attracting more to their yard. Amateur ornithologists, people who study and watch birds, are especially prone to providing seeds for local birds.

Unfortunately, there is a downside to leaving out seeds for the birds. Besides the ever-present problem of squirrels eating the food, bird seed that falls from the feeder to the ground can take root and begin sprouting in your grass. Most homeowners prefer to avoid seed germinating in their yard; if you’re one of them, you need to know how to stop birdseed from sprouting in your yard.

Bird feeders are easy to enjoy, attracting a wide variety of birds and providing entertainment for casual watchers and ornithologists alike. But if the birds in your yard aren’t particularly keen on the food you provide, whatever they don’t like can end up in your grass and eventually sprouting. To avoid growing bird seed, you need to observe the birds who frequent your yard and determine their favorite type of seed.

Most birdseed comes in a mixture of seeds. If there is one part of the mix that ends up on the ground more than the others, it’s safe to assume the birds don’t care for that seed. Figure out what variety of seed it is and find a bag at the store without that seed and preferably with a substitute. You might also consider foregoing a mixed bag altogether and trying a single seed. If sunflower seeds are being dropped from the feeder, try replacing them with safflower seeds. This change can also help with a squirrel problem as they are less keen on safflower seeds.

If you choose a bag of seeds and the birds don’t care for them, there’s not much you can do besides changing the seed. But in the meantime, you can keep the seed you have and add an attachment to the feeder to prevent the seed from falling to the ground and stop birdseed from sprouting in your yard.

One option is to add a tray under the feeder to catch seeds kicked out by the birds. This trick is great if you don’t have a squirrel problem. If you do have pesky squirrels, they may find the tray and make a mess eating the seeds, many of which will still end up on the ground. When there are squirrels attacking your feeder, install a baffle below your pole feeder or above a hanging feeder to discourage them.

When the seed has fallen and taken root, your best option is to take a rake to the affected area. Use the rake to disturb and pull up any sprouting seeds to not only remove what is there but help prevent future growth. It’s recommended to rake the area beneath a feeder several times a month. Anything you tear up is good compost, so make great use of it.

If these ideas or options aren’t desirable or aren’t cutting it, you can always switch away from birdseed altogether. Birds will eat food other seed, so try leaving out apples, oranges, and other fruits as well as peanuts. These will tempt squirrels as well, so be careful where you place them.

Once the bird seed has started sprouting, you’ll want to promptly remove it to prevent it from spreading. When you’re unable to remove to rake the area and pull the growth, or you just don’t have time, a full-service lawn care company like Mowbot is your best choice for less stress. Mowbot is full-service, offering customizable packages to meet your lawn’s needs. We also install robotic lawnmowers that live and work on your lawn alone, meaning no more cross contamination with your neighbor’s yard; this is especially beneficial if your neighbor has seeds in their grass, parvovirus, and other harmful bacteria.

Mowbot is a fantastic option for lawn care to service and repair your lawn.