If you’ve noticed grass or other plants sprouting from your bird seed, you’re not alone. Many bird lovers end up with unintended plant growth in their bird feeders or on the ground below. While surprising, this phenomenon has a simple explanation.
What’s happening?
Bird seed mixtures usually contain some percentage of seeds from grasses and other plants. These seeds pass through the birds undigested, ending up in your yard or bird feeder. Given the right conditions like moisture, light, and soil, these seeds can germinate and begin growing.
Most commercial bird seeds include plant seeds either intentionally as filler or incidentally from harvesting and processing. Cheaper mixes tend to have more filler seeds that birds won’t eat. Higher quality bird food aims to minimize this, but some amount of plant seeds is unavoidable.
Common bird food plant seeds
Here are some of the most common grass and plant seeds found in bird food blends:
- Milo – A type of grass seed in the sorghum family
- Oats – A cereal grain sometimes used as filler
- Wheat – Another cereal grain used in budget bird mixes
- Rapeseed/Canola – Seeds pressed for cooking oil, leftovers used in bird food
- Flax – Added for omega nutrients, grows quickly into flax plants
In addition to these common ingredients, local weeds and grasses can also end up mixed into the bird food due to proximity during harvesting and processing.
Is it OK for birds?
Eating and passing seeds that then sprout is a perfectly natural part of the lifecycle for wild birds. However, heavy plant growth can be problematic around bird feeders for a few reasons:
- Thick grass prevents access to spilled bird seed
- Sprouting plants crowd out desired native plants
- Birds may get tangled in the emerging foliage
- More plants mean more places for predators to hide and stalk
Frequent cleaning under and around bird feeders is recommended to prevent excessive plant growth. Areas under feeders can be covered with gravel or landscape fabric too.
Reducing plant seeds in bird food
To cut down on unwanted grasses and plants, choose bird food with:
- Higher amounts of black oil sunflower seeds, nuts, or fruit – Birds favor these
- Lower percentages of “filler” ingredients like milo, wheat, flax, and canola
- Higher overall cost per pound – This often indicates less filler
You can also purchase single seed varieties, but a mix is still best to attract different bird species.
Some non-sprouting bird food options
| Seed | Description |
|---|---|
| Black oil sunflower | High-fat sunflower seeds preferred by many birds with thin shells |
| Safflower | Small white seeds high in fat, unpopular as human food |
| Nyjer | Tiny, high-protein seeds for smaller finches |
| Peanuts | Nutritionally dense nuts relished by jays, woodpeckers, and others |
| Mealworms | Dried insect larvae with protein appealing to robins and wrens |
| Raisins and berries | Fruit that won’t sprout, loved by mockingbirds and thrushes |
Avoiding all plant matter in bird food is nearly impossible. Focus on selecting mixes with premium, sprout-resistant seeds to minimize unwanted growth. Also consider supplementing with single variety seeds.
Stopping seeds from sprouting
If you are already battling bird seed grass, here are some ways to stop it:
- Pull or dig up emerging plants as soon as you notice them
- Pour boiling water on areas under feeders to kill sprouting seeds
- Re-seed the area under bird feeders with a lawn grass mix
- Put down a layer of mulch or small stones to block light
- Cover with landscape fabric or other solid barriers
Routine sweeping or raking under feeders also helps. Act quickly once seeds begin germinating to prevent growth. For severe cases, consider relocating feeders.
When is grass OK?
Allowing some bird seed grass to grow is fine if:
- It’s contained to small patches in your yard
- The grass variety is not invasive or prone to overgrowth
- You don’t mind occasional digging or weeding
Letting nature take its course in limited areas can provide habitat for insects and ground birds. Just monitor areas closely and remove if it becomes excessive.
Using bird seed grass
Rather than purely an annoyance, this volunteer plant growth can also be viewed as free ground cover or useful biomass. Here are some potential uses for the grass and plants sprouting from bird food:
- Compost it with other yard and kitchen waste
- Add layers to a composting worm bin
- Mix into livestock bedding or feed
- Mulch into the soil when turning over gardens
- Dry and bundle as ornamental seed heads
Given proper conditions, some bird feed grass can even be pressed into service as lawn or allowed to flower into meadow plants. Take advantage of this abundance!
Conclusion
Bird seed growing grass or plants is a common occurrence that can be managed. Choose quality bird food blends with less filler grains and seeds to reduce unwanted germination. Pair mixes with sprout-resistant options like sunflower seeds, safflower, peanuts, and fruit. Remove emerging plants promptly and consider barriers or relocating problem feeders. Or make the most of it by repurposing the biomass in fun, sustainable ways!
