What's growing under birdfeeder

11 years ago

First time I've had these plants growing under bird feeder. What is it? Should I transplant it to Veggie garden? Any benefits from them?

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Comments (6)

swiss_apls_tx
Original Author
11 years ago
Here are the seeds fallen from the wild bird feeder.

This post was edited by swiss_apls_tx on Sun, Mar 3, 13 at 15:47
Dzitmoidonc
11 years ago
If the leaves are fuzzy, that is a sunflower.
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Suggestions for plants under birdfeeders
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My feeder actually straddles the edge between a small area of grass and my perennial garden beds. I have the Wild Birds Unlimited pole system with a built-in large seed catcher tray, as well as seed catcher trays on individual feeders hanging from the poles. I also invested this winter in some better seed blends, but still had some sunflower and safflower seeds mixed in. And you know what? I'm here to tell you it still makes a giant mess. I am not sure that it really matters what you plant underneath of the feeders. I think the most important thing to remember when feeding birds is that you have to be committed to doing regular cleaning (of the feeders and the ground around them) to really make it work. Here's what I have been doing to keep it (moderately) under control. There are still sunflower hulls around, and I'm sure that a seed or two will sprout. But by using ONLY sunflower or safflower seeds (no "wild bird mix" or other blends), you minimize issues. WINTER CLEANUP: When there is snow on the ground, I go up to the site about every two weeks or so with a utility sled and simply shovel the top layer of snow (coated in seeds and hulls) into the sled, then I haul the sled to my compost pile and dump it. When there is no snow on the ground, I use the spring/summer/fall cleanup method. SPRING/SUMMER/FALL CLEANUP: Two words: Rake and Shopvac. That's it. About every two weeks or so. Good luck!
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Weeds under birdfeeder
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Comments (8)
I was having this problem along with molding seed on the ground -- I use the blackoil sunflower seed. One day I saw a shallow plastic tub in the hardware store that you put under an hot water heater. I bought it and put it under the feeder with some big rocks in it. Now I can periodically clean it out, and it keeps the squirrels happy eating the leftovers. The sprouting sunflowers are gone, as is the mold problem. Not the most aesthetically pleasing garden ornament I have, I guess, but it's working. This is a new house, so please excuse the lack of beds, etc., -- I'm working as fast as I can! Later, when I do this section, I'll try to blend it in with surrounding plants. Here's a pic. Good luck to you, and please don't put that weed killer down. Here is a link that might be useful: Seed catcher
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
sunflower.. and it might not like transplant at that size ...

listen to me.. bird food seed.. makes bird food plants ... and there is NOTHING inherently 'good' in such ...

if you want a GOOD sunflower.. then spend 2 bucks.. to buy a pack of a good plant.. with a good flower.. with a good habit ...

and while you are at it ... get rid of all the bird seed weeds.. put in a few patio blocks.. and keep the weeds out from under your feeder ...

i used to feed the finches thistle ... and after a couple seasons.. i had thistle popping up EVERYWHERE.. and that is not a nice plant.. it can and will make you bleed.. lol ... as i said.. there is nothing inherently GOOD about feed seeds..

ken
swiss_apls_tx
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank You - I had absolutely no idea.
shear_stupidity
11 years ago
Around here, feeding the birds means inviting the mice and rats. No, ty.
Rather than using bird feeders, I just grow plants that attract birds.
I grew Sunflowers once. I never grew them again after watching squirrels climb up, break off the flowers, and drag them away across the yard. (That was in Michigan, but I'm sure they've got a hotline where they've passed that little "trick" on to other squirrels across the nation. LOL!
Dzitmoidonc
11 years ago
I have no problem with the one feeder we have. It is in the open and has small holes where the seed can trickle out. The seed on the ground is eaten by the ground feeding birds (doves, cardinals, grackles, etc.). I rake the inevitable mound into the lawn where it is dispersed by the mower. In 20+ years the only nuisance attracted to it has been chipmunks. Their numbers are kept down by the snakes that live in a stone wall nearby. All in all, it is a positive experience.

From what I can tell, the feeder attracts a good number of nuthatches and chickadees. These 2 particular species also do a number on egg masses and scale in the trees. The Black Walnuts around here get fewer tent caterpillars, and the Magnolia Scale that covered some trees are gone.

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What's growing under birdfeeder

Comments (6)

swiss_apls_tx
Original Author

Dzitmoidonc

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What's growing under birdfeeder

Comments (6)

swiss_apls_txOriginal Author

Dzitmoidonc

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

swiss_apls_txOriginal Author

shear_stupidity

Dzitmoidonc

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swiss_apls_tx
Original Author

swiss_apls_tx
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