The good news about this is that the grubs and insects will actually do more damage to your lawn than the birds will, and the birds are helping you control the population. Here you will find many of these animal pests and how to go about getting rid of them, or at least try to repel them safely. They are voracious eaters and will gorge themselves on the feed, especially if the mix contains sunflower seeds. Look at it another way. You can also scare them away. Goldfinches . Good Intentions Gone Wrong . Birds eating my new seed!!! You can also sit a hawk on the fence to deter the birds. Actually, nobody would like to forego their daily activities just to watch over their grass seeds for a whole month. Some of the many birds that eat lawn grubs include crows, starlings, grosbeaks, magpies, robins, and blue jays. Birds can be a sign of grubs. There are many squirrel-proof feeders available, but they are expensive. $2000 or more for my one-third acre. This also ensures direct contact between the seed and the soil and improves germination success. Get some rubber snake models and lay them on the lawn. On the other hand, I am just hoping that I put enough seed down to feed not only the lawn but the birds. It is only effective when it penetrates down beneath the turfgrass root level. Seems like a win-win situation for all involved parties. You can also run rows of cotton string staked at each side of the yard on wood stakes, and in close proximity to each other...about 6 … The dead patches of lawn have had their roots severed, and if you pull back on the patch of dead lawn, it will come up easily. Please, help! If you provide feeding stations around your garden, they may not be tempted to fly down and eat the grass seed. But the truth is, that’s not always the case. If you have grubs, for instance, you need to apply in late spring or early summer. Rather unAustralian, I would have thought. I've put this resource together for you to answer the question: What birds are in my backyard in Maine? When Is It Safe to Apply Grub Killer on New Grass? For the past few days, I have noticed a lot of small black birds pecking in my lawn. Options for covering seed include mulching or applying a lawn … REally disappointing and I have replanted. Homeowners often struggle with skunks, raccoons, armadillos, robins, moles, or crows devastating a turf lawn by digging it full of holes, never realizing the real cause. Top. It’s not hard to identify bird damage to lawns. There is no reason to leap to methods for attacking the animals and birds themselves, and in many cases, it's best to do nothing. Kikuyu rhizomes are thick, white runners with small nodes every 2-3 cm. However, the fact of the matter is … 0. philippasmith2 Posts: 9,580. Quote: Originally Posted by ertily. But large birds and small animals can devastate a lawn if the grub problem is severe, and the answer is not to attack the birds, but to get at the source of the problem leading to the feast.. Again, the same black birds returned and covered my entire back yard and only my back yard. When purchasing a chemical control, remember that products containing Merit (imidacloprid) or Mach-2 (halofenozide) are for treating the insect eggs in the spring and useless for late summer and early fall applications. Look at it another way. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. They are also a fast, easy option for bird watchers to fill their feeders. I have seen them in there and my beets seem to get nibbled down as soon as they get a few inches tall. You can put any food you like out for the birds, but be careful that it doesn’t get on the floor. - Answered by a verified Expert. Lovely close-up of garden birds eating seeds and raisins on my garden lawn. There are actually quite a few different factors that can lead to brown and dead spots. The phenomenon of birds digging holes in lawns has an easy explanation: food. Birds eating my garden (lawn, snakes, leaves, pump) User Name: Remember Me: Password Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Question by richardeber July 12, 2010. In a place we've lived for over four years, and have never seen anything like this. Caffeine will also repel birds. Remember to move the predator models around so that the birds don’t catch your trick. Many of them are the type to eat away at any pests and harmful insects in your garden – such as snails and slugs. You can spread straw on your lawn if you don't mind how it looks. Bird food does have the potential to attract rats. Kelly Burke is a freelance writer and professional turf manager. No one seems to sell any spray on coating to discourage birds from eating seed. 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