Sunflowers are a great low maintenance flower to grow, which yields a tasty snack for birds when it’s time to harvest. In reality, you may find that birds often get to your seeds before you have the chance to harvest. The most important time to protect sunflowers is when they are first planted.
Once sunflowers have sprouted, pests tend to leave them alone until it is time to harvest. Below are some of the best ways to protect sunflowers from birds.
Sunflowers are a quintessential summer flower that brighten up any garden with their bold, bright blooms. However, these cheery flowers often attract more than just admiring human eyes. Birds love to snack on sunflower seeds and flower heads before we get the chance to enjoy them ourselves.
While sharing is caring, it’s understandable that you’d want to protect some of your laboriously grown sunflowers for your own pleasure. The good news is there are several gentle, humane tactics you can try to deter birds from feasting on your sunflowers prematurely. With a combination of exclusion, distraction, and natural repellents, you can find an effective solution.
Here are 10 clever ways to keep birds away from your sunflowers
1. Use Protective Coverings
One simple way to protect sunflowers is to cover them with barriers that allow sunlight, air, and water through while keeping birds out. For seedlings or smaller areas lightweight row covers secured with clothespins work well. For larger plants drape bird netting over the flower heads or entire plant. You can also construct cages out of chicken wire or hardware cloth around young sprouts. Just be sure they are properly anchored.
2. Reflective Scare Tape
Hang reflective Mylar tape, old CDs, or other shiny objects near your sunflowers. The flashes of light startle and scare away birds. Hanging items that blow in the breeze also help deter birds. Move scare tape and other reflective items periodically so birds don’t become accustomed to them.
3. Make Some Noise
Strategically place wind chimes, aluminum pie pans, or other noisemaking devices around your sunflowers. The sounds will startle visiting birds and keep them away. Change the location of noisemakers regularly so birds don’t get used to them. You can also try ultrasonic bird repellers, but check reviews, as some may work better than others.
4. Use Natural Repellents
Sprinkle cayenne pepper, chili powder, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic powder, or other spices and herbs around your sunflowers and garden bed. Birds dislike the strong smells and flavors. Reapply repellents after rain or watering. Other natural options include coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, citrus peels, vinegar, and essential oils.
5. Plant Companion Plants
Plant sunflowers or other bird favorites as “sacrificial crops” near your main crop of sunflowers. The companion plants will help distract and divert birds away from your prize flowers. Marigolds, millet, and daylilies are other good choices. You can also interplant sunflowers with daffodils, lavender, or other plants birds dislike.
6. Offer Superior Food Sources
Place bird feeders and birdbaths well away from your garden to help lure birds away from your sunflowers. Providing birds with better, easier to access sources of food and water nearby means they will be less likely to raid your flowers. Black oil sunflower seeds are a great choice to fill feeders with.
7. Harvest Flower Heads Promptly
Keep a close eye on maturing sunflower heads and harvest them promptly as soon as seeds start to develop. Tie paper bags or netting over the flower heads if needed to catch falling seeds. The quicker you can harvest, the less time birds will have to discover the ripening seeds.
8. Scare ‘Em Away
Position a tall, menacing scarecrow among your sunflower patch and move it every few days so it doesn’t become part of the scenery. Stick to large, bright, imposing figures for best effect. Simple homemade scarecrows often work just as well as store-bought ones. Just be sure it has moveable appendages that blow in the wind.
9. Plan Carefully
Consider staggering your sunflower plantings so that all your flowers aren’t maturing at once. By planning successive plantings a couple weeks apart, you can avoid having more ripe sunflower heads than you can protect from marauding birds. You can also mix early-, mid-, and late-season varieties.
10. Stay Vigilant
Check your sunflower patch daily for signs of bird damage. Promptly apply protective measures at the first sign of interest from birds. Early intervention is key before they get entrenched and view your flowers as an all-you-can-eat seed buffet. Be prepared to use multiple deterrents and move/change them frequently.
With persistence, ingenuity, and gentle deterrents, you can successfully protect your sunflowers from bird invasions. The key is to be proactive and consistent. And remember to enjoy nature’s beauty as you keep your flowers safe – including your feathered friends, as pesky as they may be! They are simply trying to survive, just as you are trying to grow a beautiful garden.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deterring Birds From Sunflowers
What is the most effective way to keep birds from sunflowers?
Physical barriers like row covers and netting tend to be the most reliable method. Noisemakers, repellents, and scare tactics also work well as part of a multifaceted approach. The key is to use several deterrents at once and change them up frequently.
What plants repel birds from gardens?
Daffodils, lavender, marigolds, peppermint, thyme, parsley, garlic, and chives are some herbs and flowers known to repel birds. Strong spices and smells like chili powder, garlic, and vinegar-based repellents also discourage them.
Do fake owls keep birds away from sunflowers?
Fake predator owls can be effective initially but should be moved every 2-3 days so birds don’t get accustomed. Combining with other deterrents like reflective tape and soundmakers improves the effect. Real owl decoys that move in the wind work even better.
What scent do birds hate?
Birds have a strong aversion to smells like garlic, chili powder, black pepper, peppermint oil, and vinegar even in small concentrations. Citrus peel and coffee grounds also deter birds. Reapply smelly repellents after rain or watering.
How close should bird feeders be to sunflowers?
Locate bird feeders at least 20-30 feet away from any sunflowers you want to protect. Farther is even better. The greater the distance, the less likely the birds will notice your sunflowers. Having a bird bath nearby also helps keep them away.
With some clever planning and persistence, you can outsmart crafty birds and keep them from stealing all your precious sunflowers. The key is diligence, adaptability, and not giving up! With a multifaceted approach, you can happily share your bounty with birds on your terms.
Protecting Seedlings
If you’re starting to plant sunflowers, one of the most common ways to protect your young seeds is with covers. Seed tunnels are an effective solution to protecting your seedling because they create a physical barrier between the plant and the birds looking to eat them. Seed covers will only be useful for the early stages of growth. After a flower starts growing taller, you will need something else to protect them.
Another effective solution to protect sprouting sunflowers is to encase them in chicken wire, or other lightweight fencing. As the flowers begin to grow, adjust the wire so that the tops are not getting blocked by the wire, as this could damage them. Make sure the plants have enough room so that critters can’t get the flowers close to the wire.
You can also start growing seeds in pots, which works well for smaller varieties that tend to have smaller roots. Fertilize the soil for the most effective growing conditions, and provide the seeds with as much natural sunlight as possible until it’s time to add them to your plot or field.
Once you have grown sunflowers, you will need to start thinking about protecting the sunflower head so birds don’t steal the seeds before they are ready to harvest. Some of the most common flower covering materials include:
- Poly Spring garden fleece
- Cheesecloth
- Old pantyhose
These materials work well because they allow light in while providing a fine mesh material that makes it hard for animals to penetrate and snack on your almost ripe seeds. An added benefit of using these fine mesh coverings is they also protect your sunflowers from squirrels and other small critters.
Remember to avoid using plastic bags, as moisture can get caught in the bag and cause mold or rot. Paper bags can work well but don’t allow light in like other materials.
Using another food source nearby is another way to deter birds from snacking on your sunflowers. Distribute bird feeders and sources of water away from your crops. You can also plant decoy plants that birds can eat instead.