Who doesn’t like to hear birds chirping and singing in their melodious voices? It’s a lovely experience. Imagine spending time with your partner and kids and some small little birds. Although having birds near your home and on your lawn can be fun, having too many of them on freshly seeded grass is a big no-no. Birds love seeds. Before your new grass seeds can germinate, the birds will eat them up, resulting in an uneven lawn. If you plan to create a lawn, you need to know how to keep birds from eating grass seeds. We will go over the top 15 ways to deter birds without causing any harm to them in this post.
Why are birds attracted to my lawn?
Animals and birds frequently seek out the easiest possible means of obtaining food. Birds feed on seeds, worms, larvae, insects, etc. So, it is natural for the birds to swarm on your newly sown seeds. It's like an unlimited buffet for them. Your lawn is the best opportunity for them.
Birds also look for warm places to lay their eggs. If trees line your lawn, there is a great chance the birds will make a nest there.
Are birds dangerous to my lawn?
Birds aren’t dangerous if compared to something like worms, insects, and algae.
In a moderate amount, having birds on your lawn is beneficial. They eat worms and insects that might harm your new grass seeds. However, you cannot let them eat all the grass seeds you planted. An uneven lawn is visually unappealing, and it is also difficult to fix later on.
How to identify bird damage?
When birds flock on your lawn, they are usually there to feed on the seeds. They dig holes with their beak to get the seed planted in the soil. It is a bird damage sign if you find holes in your garden of about 1 or 1 and a half inches.
15 Ways To Keep Birds From Eating Your Grass Seeds
Keeping birds away is the only way to save your lawn. It would be best if you employed any of the following methods until the seeds germinate.
There is no harm in using the methods below even after the grass has grown to a certain height since birds also feed on the roots of runners. All the methods suggested below are only to keep birds from eating your grass seeds. None of them are life-threatening to the birds.
1. Fake predators
Scaring birds before they enter your premise works well. Most methods employed to keep birds from eating your new grass seeds use fear as their weapon. To scare the birds, you can use rubber snakes, fake owls, fake cats, etc. These days, it's even possible to find owls equipped with motion detectors that start making the owl's voice when they spot a bird.
The trick here is that animals' voices, movements, and shadows are enough for the birds to abort their mission on your lawn.
2. Motion sensing sprinklers.
Wherever we need it, technology is there to help. Did you know that the market has a wide variety of motion-sensing sprinklers?
By looking at its detection range, you can find out how far a motion-sensing sprinkler or sprayer can detect motion. Some brands offer potent devices that can detect movement between 40 and 60 feet. But if you are on a budget, you can try cheaper sprinklers with a detection range of roughly 30 feet. The motion-sensing sprinklers are worth a try because they automatically identify birds flying into your lawn and splash water on them to deter them without harming them.
3. Spray bird-repellent liquid.
You can also buy an excellent bird-repellent liquid to keep the birds away. Bird-repellent liquids contain chemicals like Aluminum Ammonium Sulphate, which are entirely harmless to birds. They just taste quite bitter to them if they ingest it. All you have to do is mix the liquid in a large quantity of water to dilute it and then simply use a sprayer on your lawn.
The birds aren’t fans of bird-repellent liquid because of its taste. Hence they would avoid poking holes in your soil to eat the grass seeds or the roots.
You can make your DIY bird-repellent liquid if you are on a budget. People use weak black tea, peppermint oil, etc., to keep the birds away.
4. Use bird-repellent grass seed.
You can use coated grass seeds instead of regular grass seeds to deter birds. These seeds have a bird-repellent coating that tastes terrible and is entirely harmless if swallowed by birds. When you water the plants, the layer may come off, so be sure to choose high-quality coated grass seed, which will hold onto the coating for a long time. Merely making them avoid your lawn by having seeds that taste unpleasant is the goal.
If you are wondering whether bird-repellent seeds will hinder the growth of your own seeds, then the answer is no. It is only a coat meant to keep the birds away, and there are no harmful chemicals.
5. Cover with straw mulch.
Before watering the seed, you can cover it with a layer of straw mulch. A layer of mulch above the soil will make it difficult for the birds to reach the seeds sown inside the soil. Mulch is an excellent method of covering the seeds because it protects grass seeds from birds and helps with the proper growth of the seed. Mulch can retain moisture, prevent weed growth and improve the soil's overall health. If you protect your seeds from birds and help the soil maintain moisture and nutrients, your seeds will grow into a beautiful, green lawn.
6. Cover with Burlap sheets.
If you find mulch to be an unsuitable alternative, you can try covering the seeds with burlap fabric. It is a loosely woven jute fabric that protects the seed while letting water pass through. Burlap fabric can trap heat, so if you live in colder temperatures, burlap can help keep the soil warm. If you have a huge area to cover, it's generally not the greatest option since the fabric is expensive.
I'd want to provide you with a bit of caution. The fragile seeds that have just begun germinating require abundant sunlight to survive. Most of the sunlight will be blocked by the burlap. Hence you must remove the burlap covering as soon as the seeds germinate. Check daily for small green grass sprouting out of the soil and remove the fabric as soon as you see such developments.
7. Netting
Physical obstacles are the best methods to prevent birds from entering your lawn. Use a net across your lawn to stop birds from entering.
8. Install mirrors and other reflective things
Birds cannot stand shiny objects and reflective surfaces. They disturb their vision when the light rays deflect from a surface. You can install small mirrors on your lawn. You could place a few pieces of aluminum foil on the ground.
9. Use bird tape.
Specialized holographic tapes called "bird tapes" can deter invading birds without harming them. These tapes produce stunning flashes that frighten the birds when sunlight hits their surface. These flash tape deterrents reflect light and have holographic designs. Additionally, the tape will produce a rattling sound if you leave it hanging, which will help scare the birds away. It is a very efficient instrument since it visually and auditorily frightens the birds.
10. Brightly colored flags.
I am sure children's paper windmills and flags in vibrant colors must not have crossed your mind when you thought of ‘how to keep birds from eating grass seeds.’ But these are also excellent alternatives for keeping birds out of your yard. Bright colors do not make birds feel very comfortable so they will stay away from your lawn. Additionally, the flag will generate noise when the wind blows, discouraging the birds even more.
11. Install a bird feeder.
Another way of distracting the birds is to install a bird feeder. It is a device used to supply food to birds. The effectiveness of a bird feeder depends on where it is placed and the food offered, as each bird species has different preferences. Add millets or sunflower seeds to your feeder to keep birds from eating your planted seeds. The feeders should be positioned strategically to reduce the crowding of birds. Disinfect the feeder now and then and use feed additives to control food molding.
12. Disinfect the lawn.
Birds swarm to your lawn if they see worms and insects. Simply take away the food source for the birds if you don't want them to damage your recently planted grass seeds while devouring the worms on your lawn. Along with using bird feeders, you can try to use safe insecticides to keep worms and insects out of your garden, which will discourage birds from visiting your lawn. It is a straightforward strategy: if the attraction that draws birds to your lawn is eliminated, the birds will quit visiting.
13. Use special absorption seeds.
Water, healthy soil, and sunlight are the three major requirements of a growing seed. There are special quality seeds available in the market called absorption seeds. These seeds can absorb water from the surroundings more efficiently. As a result, germination progresses more quickly. It would be best to keep birds out of your lawn until germination since they come for the seeds. The birds won't have time to harm your lawn if the seeds germinate rapidly.
14. Hang wind chimes.
Because rattling noises frighten birds, hanging objects that produce such obnoxious noises with the wind flow are effective. To do this, you might install wind chimes on your lawn. They are also beautiful, so they will add to the lawn decor. If you are a DIY person, you can hang old tin cans close to each other so that when the wind blows, the cans will slam against each other and make a rattling sound.
15. Plant more grass seeds.
Another straightforward strategy is to plant extra seeds. It is so simple. Your grass will appear sparse in some areas if the birds consume many of your seeds. You instead put in additional seeds. So, even if some of the seeds are eaten by birds, you won't lose all of them.
Wrapping up
Having birds in your lawn is wonderful until they ruin your newly planted grass seeds. You don’t need to hurt the birds to prevent them from eating your grass seeds. Use the above-recommended methods, which do not endanger the life of the birds but at the same time do the job of keeping them at bay.
FAQ's
- 1. Will birds eat lawn seeds?
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Protecting grass seeds from the birds is a challenge, as birds are naturally attracted to them and may feed on them if given the opportunity.
- 2. How do you protect grass seeds from birds?
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Grass seeds can be protected from birds using some effective methods such as netting; scare tactics like scarecrows, balloons, and moving reflective objects; using noise deterrents and physical barriers.
- 3. What is the best deterrent for birds?
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The effectiveness of bird deterrents can vary depending on bird species and factors such as birds involved and the environment. One of the best deterrents is physical barriers such as netting.
- 4. Is coated grass seed better?
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Coated grass seed offers certain advantages over uncoated grass seeds, such as enhanced germination, improved seed distribution, easier handling, and protection against diseases and pests.
- 5. Is there anything you can spray to keep birds away?
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Certain sprays are available that can help deter birds, such as bird-repellent sprays, pepper sprays, citrus-based sprays, and reflective sprays.