How to stop birds from eating grass seed: handy hacks and tips

You’ve invested in high-quality grass seed, prepared the ground, and sown the seed according to the instructions. Great – job done; put your feet up, and watch your lawn spring back to life.

But then you return a couple of hours later to discover that those pesky birds have had a feast at your expense! It’s time to plan how to stop birds from eating your grass seed!

Indeed, one of the biggest challenges with new grass seed is dealing with birds, which can eat up your seed in no time, leaving you with a patchy and uneven lawn. In this guide, we will discuss how you can keep birds from eating grass seeds.

Why should you overseed each year?

A young lawn is a healthy one, and the best way to keep your turf youthful and vital is to overseed each year. 

Overseeding is the process of laying grass seed over the top of your existing lawn, especially in bald or thinning spots, to help bring vitality back to your lawn. 

It’s wise to overseed in the following cases:

• After scarifying — your lawn will look thin and battered, so it’s the best time to add fresh grass seed to help your turf bounce back.
• Your grass looks depleted after the winter
• There are yellow or dying spots in your existing lawn

Alternatively, you might consider sowing a new lawn from scratch. 

However:

Birds love to eat grass seeds; if you’re not careful, they can quickly devour your entire lawn. But don’t worry – there are many ways of keeping birds from eating your grass seeds.

What Kinds of Birds Eat Grass Seeds?

Some birds are more common in certain regions of the country, but the most common birds that eat grass seeds are:

• Quails (mainly in Dorset, East Anglia, the Welsh Marches, and across the south of England and Wiltshire)
• Doves and pigeons
• Sparrows
• Finches
• Starlings 

These birds are all voracious seed-eaters and will happily devour your grass seeds if they can. Quails, particularly, are fond of grass seeds and can feast on them in large amounts until none are remaining.

It’s also important to note that other birds, such as crows and jays, may also be attracted to your lawn if they sense that grass seeds are present. However, they’re unlikely to eat your seeds, but they may still be a nuisance.

How to Stop Birds from Eating Grass Seed

The most effective method to stop birds from eating grass seed is erecting mesh, netting, or bird-proof fencing around your lawn. Mesh will keep birds away because they won’t be able to land, so they’ll fly off in search of other pastures. 

There are several other ways of deterring birds, including:

Hang CDs/tin foil across the lawn

Erect a long length of string diagonally across your lawn, attaching it to fence posts or trees. Then, thread old CDs (tying or sticking them in place) a metre apart along the length of the string. 

If you don’t have old CDs, you could twist tin foil along the string, leaving it loose and with as large a surface area as possible. 

The CDs and/or foil will sway in the wind, casting reflective light across your lawn, which birds find off-putting, deterring them from landing. 

Create two to three reflective strings across more extensive lawns for best results. For a 70m² plot, set up lines around 1-2m apart. 

Scare birds away with sound

Play a recording of birds of prey during the morning and early evening when birds are most active to deter hungry birds. 

This approach is probably not ideal (for your neighbours!) if you live in a highly populated area, but it works well if you live in the countryside. 

Fake birds of prey

You can buy fake, ornamental birds of prey from garden centres. They make attractive garden ornaments, but they’ll also trick hungry birds from eating your grass seed. 

However, this can deter birds all year round, and you probably want to welcome them back once your seeds have germinated, but you could use this as an effective temporary measure. 

Alternatively, you could go old-skool and build yourself a scarecrow. 

Grass Seed Varieties That Birds Won’t Touch

Certain types of grass seeds are less attractive to birds than others. 

For example, many types of ryegrass and perennial ryegrass are less attractive to birds than other types of grasses. Similarly, some types of fescue are also less attractive to birds. 

If you’re looking for a way to deter birds from your lawn without using bird-proof fencing or noise deterrents, these types of grass seed can be a good option.

How to Protect Your Grass Seeds from Birds

If you’ve already planted your grass seeds and are worried about birds eating them, there are a few steps you can follow to protect them. 

One option is to cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil or sand. This will help keep the seeds from being exposed to birds while germinating. 

Alternatively, cover your seeds with straw. However, don’t add too much, and remove it when the seeds have germinated, or the straw layer will block out the light, which will stunt growth. 

Tips for Keeping Birds Away from Your Grass Seeds

Here are a few tips for keeping birds away from your grass seeds:

• Plant your grass seeds in the late evening or early morning when birds are less active.
• Use netting or other bird-proof fencing to keep birds away from your lawn.
• Use a decoy. Pile up some seed at the side of your lawn. That way, the birds will eat there (and hopefully avoid your grass). Best used with other deterrents, such as netting.  
• Use noise deterrents like sound machines to deter birds from your lawn.
• Plant grass seed varieties that birds are less attracted to, such as ryegrass or fescue.

Any questions?

Keeping birds away from your grass seeds is a key part of maintaining a healthy and attractive lawn. Fortunately, you can use various methods to keep birds from eating your grass seeds, such as netting and bird-proof bird feeders. 

You can also plant grass seed varieties that birds are less attracted to, such as ryegrass and fescue. 

Finally, you can use noise deterrents, such as sound machines, to keep birds away from your lawn. 

Get in touch if you have any questions!

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