If you have ever fed
wild birds, you know they love sunflower
seeds. Squirrels,
too, compete with birds at feeders and generally make a nuisance of themselves.
Wild animals don’t draw a line when it comes to food, and your ripening
sunflower heads are also a target. Preventing bird and squirrel sunflower
damage may seem like a round the clock defense strategy, but take heart. We
have some simple tricks on how to deter birds and squirrels and save your
sunflower seeds.
How to Deter Birds and Squirrels from Sunflowers
Admittedly, it’s kind of cute when squirrels shimmy their
way up towering sunflowers to feast on the seeds, but what if you want to save
that seed? Protecting sunflowers from birds and squirrels will help you keep
the harvest all to yourself. You can get creative to deter birds eating
sunflowers and squirrels taking your hard won harvest.
Using netting over the flower or entire plant can prevent many seed thieves. Plant decoy plants, keep bird feeders filled, and place feeding sites for squirrels. If they aren’t hungry, they are not as likely to go after your plants.
There are sprays and repellents available that, combined
with covering the flower, should work in combo. Rather than play around with
such measures, you can also just harvest the flowers. Pick them when the back
of the flower turns from green to deeply yellow. Set the seed heads in a dry,
warm location to cure.
Birds Eating Sunflower Plants
It’s only natural to see birds eating sunflower. However,
their feast is your loss, so protective measures must ensue. You can try a scarecrow,
the classic way to scare away birds or use any fluttering, moving item that
will startle them away. One easy method is to hang CDs to sway and glitter in
the sunlight.
Draping the plant in holiday tinsel is another quick way to
frighten birds away from your seeds. You can also cover the heads so birds
can’t get to them so easily. Simple brown paper bags slipped over the flowers
will let the seeds continue to ripen while deterring the birds.
Squirrels Eating Sunflower
Start protecting sunflowers by planting thorny or sharp
plants around the base. You can use cardboard or metal to fashion a baffle just
under the flower. These will prevent the animal from reaching its prize.
Alternatively, you can wrap sheet metal or even aluminum foil around the stalk,
but you will have to go quite high up, as squirrels are excellent jumpers.
Many gardeners find success in simply covering the flower
itself with a mesh container, like a berry crate. Squirrels reportedly dislike mothballs.
Hang a few from sturdy leaf petioles and repel the little critters. Sharply
scented herbs and spicy sprays are also excellent repellents.
If you have ever fed
wild birds, you know they love sunflower
seeds. Squirrels,
too, compete with birds at feeders and generally make a nuisance of themselves.
Wild animals don’t draw a line when it comes to food, and your ripening
sunflower heads are also a target. Preventing bird and squirrel sunflower
damage may seem like a round the clock defense strategy, but take heart. We
have some simple tricks on how to deter birds and squirrels and save your
sunflower seeds.
How to Deter Birds and Squirrels from Sunflowers
Admittedly, it’s kind of cute when squirrels shimmy their
way up towering sunflowers to feast on the seeds, but what if you want to save
that seed? Protecting sunflowers from birds and squirrels will help you keep
the harvest all to yourself. You can get creative to deter birds eating
sunflowers and squirrels taking your hard won harvest.
Using netting over the flower or entire plant can prevent many seed thieves. Plant decoy plants, keep bird feeders filled, and place feeding sites for squirrels. If they aren’t hungry, they are not as likely to go after your plants.
There are sprays and repellents available that, combined
with covering the flower, should work in combo. Rather than play around with
such measures, you can also just harvest the flowers. Pick them when the back
of the flower turns from green to deeply yellow. Set the seed heads in a dry,
warm location to cure.
Birds Eating Sunflower Plants
It’s only natural to see birds eating sunflower. However,
their feast is your loss, so protective measures must ensue. You can try a scarecrow,
the classic way to scare away birds or use any fluttering, moving item that
will startle them away. One easy method is to hang CDs to sway and glitter in
the sunlight.
Draping the plant in holiday tinsel is another quick way to
frighten birds away from your seeds. You can also cover the heads so birds
can’t get to them so easily. Simple brown paper bags slipped over the flowers
will let the seeds continue to ripen while deterring the birds.
Squirrels Eating Sunflower
Start protecting sunflowers by planting thorny or sharp
plants around the base. You can use cardboard or metal to fashion a baffle just
under the flower. These will prevent the animal from reaching its prize.
Alternatively, you can wrap sheet metal or even aluminum foil around the stalk,
but you will have to go quite high up, as squirrels are excellent jumpers.
Many gardeners find success in simply covering the flower
itself with a mesh container, like a berry crate. Squirrels reportedly dislike mothballs.
Hang a few from sturdy leaf petioles and repel the little critters. Sharply
scented herbs and spicy sprays are also excellent repellents.