As an avid birdwatcher and nature lover, you want to attract beautiful birds to your yard by providing food. However, you quickly notice that the bird seed is sprouting all over your lawn and garden areas. While you want to create a bird-friendly habitat, sprouted bird seed can become a nuisance weed taking over the landscape. Luckily, with some simple tips and tricks, you can continue feeding wild birds while preventing unwanted sprouting of bird seed.
Why Does Bird Seed Sprout?
Bird seed is made up of grains and seeds that have been chosen to be healthy and tasty for wild birds. A lot of well-known blends have black oil sunflower seeds, millet, cracked corn, Nyjer, safflower, and other things in them. These seeds are full of energy and give birds the fats, carbs, and proteins they need. They also have embryos inside that can hatch and grow into plants and seedlings. This makes it easy for bird seed to grow when it’s spread out on the ground. A lot of seeds fall from feeders because of wind, gravity, squirrels, heavy rain, and messy eaters. If the conditions are right (wet and warm), they can grow in your lawn, flower beds, or garden. It might not seem dangerous for birdseed to sprout, but it causes weeds to take over valuable planting areas.
Tips to Stop Bird Seed from Sprouting
Luckily, armed with the right techniques you can continue feeding birds while preventing unwanted sprouting. Here are some of the most effective ways to stop bird seed from sprouting in your yard
Use Seed Catchers
Seed catchers placed under feeders provide an easy solution. These trays catch falling seeds before they reach the soil. They come in simple tray styles or with mesh screens to allow water drainage while trapping seeds. Place them under feeder poles or hang below feeders. Regularly empty and clean catchers to remove debris and discarded seeds. This stops them from eventually reaching the ground.
Sterilize the Seeds
Heating seeds destroys their ability to germinate. You can sterilize store-bought seeds at home before use. To do this, spread seeds on a baking sheet and bake at 250°F for 10-15 minutes until lightly toasted. Heating longer than necessary can burn the seeds, so watch closely. Microwaving works too, but requires care to avoid scorching. Microwave in short intervals then check if seeds sprout when planted. Repeat heating if needed.
Use Nyjer Seed
Nyjer seed, which is also known as thistle seed, is a simple option that doesn’t sprout. The production process sterilizes the seeds, preventing germination. Nyjer appeals especially to finches, siskins and redpolls. While costlier than mixes, the single seed solves sprouting issues. Nyjer should be fed through “thistle socks” or fine mesh tube feeders. Keep in mind that the cheap “filler seed” that was added to Nyjer can still grow. Seek high-quality, pure Nyjer without fillers.
Pick Platform Feeders
Platform feeders allow birds to forage for seeds and nuts scattered on a tray. Consider using platform feeders made with a synthetic mesh surface. These enable drainage while preventing discarded hulls and seeds from reaching soil and sprouting. Place feeders over non-planting areas for easier cleanup.
Favor No-Mess Feeders
Certain feeders are designed to minimize waste and spillage For example, tube-style feeders offer access to one seed at a time This prevents birds from scattering extras. Also, suet feeders with tail props or cages keep birds from flinging suet as they eat. Using these styles minimizes dropped seeds or suet chunks on the ground.
Add Pavers Under Feeders
Ground cover matters when it comes to sprouting. Bird seed landing on a paved surface simply sits on top. Installing pavers, bricks or gravel under feeders prevents contact with soil. This inhibits germination and sprouting in high traffic areas. You can still sweep or blow debris off an impervious surface. For easy access, place pavers or stepping stones around pole mounts or hang feeders above gravel beds.
Remove Feeders Periodically
Taking down feeders temporarily provides a chance to clean up seed debris before it sprouts. Consider removing feeders seasonally when bears become active or birds migrate. Or, bring feeders in for a few weeks mid-season. This allows you to clear and till soil, removing any missed seed. An occasional break also helps disperse congregating birds.
Keep Areas Well Trimmed
Staying on top of trimming and weeding is key. When sprouted seeds blend into overgrown areas, removal becomes difficult. Take care of the beds and borders, and mow, edge, and weed the lawn often. This keeps sprouted seeds visible for prompt removal. Frequent light passes with the mower prevent seedlings from maturing.
Act Fast After Weather Events
Wind and rain inevitably knock some seeds to the ground. After blustery days or storms, do a sweep around feeders. Heavy rain can then promote sprouting conditions. Removing freshly scattered seeds quickly reduces this risk. Depending on the area, you can hand pull, hoe, till or apply a sprout preventer product. Acting fast keeps sprouted seeds from taking hold.
By feeding your plants in a smart way, you can stop sprouting and enjoy watching songbirds gather for meals. Follow these tips to keep your yard safe while giving animals the food they need. Soon, finches, doves, sparrows, and other birds will be flocking to your sprout-free sanctuary to eat.
Plants That Grow From Bird Seed
Not all bird seed is created equal. Here are the most popular seeds manufacturers include in their mixes:
- Sunflower: A lot of different birds like black oil sunflower seeds. Striped varieties have tougher shells that make them harder for some birds to open. Whole sunflower seeds will sprout and grow. Shelling, hulling or chipping seeds eliminates this problem.
- Cardinals, blue jays, and tufted titmice are some of the native birds that love these small, white cone-shaped seeds. Safflower plants can grow up to 5 feet tall, depending on the type. 3-1. 5 m. ) tall and produce yellow, orange or red globular flowers.
- Nyjer: These thin black seeds are sometimes called “thistle” in bird seed mixes. Goldfinches love them. Nyjer, or Guizotia abyssinica, grows 4 to 6 feet tall and is related to the sunflower. 2-1. 8 m. ) tall and has yellow daisy-like flowers. This is one bird seed that wont sprout weeds. Internationally grown nyjer, the USDA needs the seeds to be heat-sterilized before they can be brought in.
- Millet, white proso, is liked by quail, cardinals, juncos, and other ground-feeding birds. It is often put in ground-level bird feeders for these birds. These football-shaped seeds are creamy white to light tan and grow quickly when it’s warm outside. The grass millet grows every year and is 3 to 6 feet tall. 9-1. 8 m. ) tall.
- Corn—Whole kernels of shelled corn can sprout and grow into full-sized corn plants, but they won’t produce the soft, sweet corn that people love. If you find stray corn plants in your yard, feeding them cracked corn will get rid of them.
- Peanuts—Jays, crows, and woodpeckers like whole peanuts, but smaller birds like them shelled and chopped. Peanuts wont germinate unless the pinkish-brown hull is still attached. These legumes grow 1 to 1. 5 feet (0. 3-0. 5 m. ) tall.
- Milo—These round, reddish-brown seeds are also called milo maize. Smaller birds don’t like them, but many types of game birds, doves, and jays do. This bird seed, which is also known as sorghum, looks like corn plants as it sprouts. However, milo doesnt produce kernel-filled ears. The flower heads and seeds show up at the plant’s peak.
How to Keep Bird Seed from Sprouting
Avid bird lovers know there are several tricks when it comes to weed-free bird feeding. Adopt a few or all of these tried and true techniques for eliminating unwanted plants around the bird feeder:
- Dont buy cheap seed. You get what you pay for when it comes to bird seed mixes. A lot of bargain mixes have “filler” seeds that birds won’t eat. As a result, these seeds are kicked out of the feeder and land on the ground, where they grow into a wide range of weeds that you don’t want. Stay away from things that have milo, wheat, oats, golden or red millet, or flax in them.
- Change bird feeders. Changing the type of feeder can get rid of a lot of weed problems. Birds have to take out one seed at a time from a tube feeder with small holes in it, which helps keep food from going to waste. Avoid bird feeders that sway as these can spill feed.
- Use multiple feeders. Buy single seeds and put each one in a different feeder. The birds will go to their favorite feeder and not throw away seeds they don’t want.
- Install a seed catcher. Not only do these useful tools catch dropped seeds, they also get rid of unsightly seed hulls.
- Regularly clean up fallen seeds. Putting down pavers under the bird feeder will make it much easier to clean up the seeds and hulls that fall out.
- Plant ground cover under the feeder. Plants that grow close together will shade the ground and stop bird seeds from sprouting or growing if they do.
Finally, consider purchasing non-germinating bird seed. These products are often labeled “no mess” or “no-waste” and only contain seeds which have been shelled, hulled or cracked.
How to Prevent Bird Seed From Germinating
FAQ
How to prevent birdseed from sprouting?
Keep Wild Birdseed From Becoming WeedsFeed Zamzows No Sprout. Feed Nyjer Thistle Seeds (Don’t worry they aren’t really thistles) . Make Sure Your Seed is Fresh. Change Your Bird Feeder. Attach a “Catcher” to Your Bird Feeders. Clean Up Spilled Seed Before it Sprouts. Pour Concrete or Add Pavers Under Your Feeders.
How to stop seeds from sprouting?
Don’t Disturb the Soil So the less you disturb the soil, the more likely weed seeds will remain asleep. Avoid high-powered tillers, and go easy on the hand cultivating. Sow your flower and vegetable seeds above the ground in mounds of compost, shredded leaves, or even in bags of topsoil.
How to bake bird seed so it doesn’t sprout?
Just spread the birdseed in a shallow pan and bake it in your oven for 10 to 15 minutes at 150 degrees. Jan 8, 2016.
What is the best binder for bird seeds?
Need to make a sticky surface for your birdseed but don’t have any corn syrup? Use peanut butter instead! Mix equal parts peanut butter and flour together. This combination of ingredients will also allow you to skip the chilling step that gelatin requires.
How do you keep bird seed from sprouting?
Proper storage of bird seed: Storing bird seed properly is crucial to prevent sprouting. For the seed to stay healthy and not sprout, it’s important to store it in the right container, keep it in a cool, dry place, and shield it from water and sunlight. Why Does Bird Seed Sprout?.
How do you keep birds from sprouting on your lawn?
Lawns require daily cleaning to avoid weeds. To avoid the sprouting of any bird seeds, you can simply, clean up the spillage before they sprout. To do this, you may need an outdoor vacuum cleaner or a blower. This way, the seeds will be off the lawn before they germinate, preventing any wild plantations in your backyard.
How do you keep birds from sprouting in a bird feeder?
Warm the oven up to 150 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the bird seed on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. This will kill any potential sprouts without harming the birds. In addition to sterilizing your bird seed, choosing the right type of bird feeder can also help prevent sprouting.
Does bird seed sprout?
Almost all bird seed will sprout. If an unwanted plant is defined as a weed, then bird seed that sprouts is a weed. Some sprouting bird seed may look like grass at first. But bird seeds grow into whatever seed you are feeding: sunflowers, millet, wheat, milo, flax, rapeseed, canary seed. How do you keep bird seed from growing under your feeder?
Can bird feeders prevent seed sprouts?
Yes, using bird feeders can help prevent seed sprouts on your lawn. Bird feeders with catch trays or positioned away from the lawn can reduce seed spillage and minimize the chances of sprouting. How often should I clean up fallen seeds from my lawn?
How do I prevent birds from growing in my lawn?
For those interested in making sure the birds are fed and the lawn looks gorgeous, we have a couple of tips to prevent any unwanted plantations to make room in your lawn. To prevent bird seed from sprouting and the growth of stray weeds in your lawn, you can use sterilized seeds, seed catchers, or even tube feeders to solve the problem.