Trying to grow grass can be the bane of anyone’s existence as Long Island landscaping experts all know firsthand. You find yourself putting more effort into your lawn than some people put in at the gym, so darn it! You want results! But after weeks of strategically placing grass seed throughout your yard, you might be wondering why your lawn looks so thin and the birds look so fat. Little did you know that friendly flock of flyers is just waiting on their next free meal.
The easiest and possibly thriftiest solution to protect your grass seed, according to Long Island landscaping experts, is to buy garden ornaments that will scare the birds away. You can choose non-moving knick-knacks such as owls or snakes, but if the birds are smart, they might figure out these are just decoys. A better option might be to use brightly colored flags or pinwheels, something with a lot of color and movement, which will scare the birds away.
If your local flock seems resistant to the simplicity of this solution, Long Island landscaping specialists say it might be time to step it up a notch and pull out the big guns – straw mulch, a solid seed covering and a pat down. Try placing the seed under ¼” of soil and patting down with a shovel. Help keep the seed under the dirt and out of the birds’ mouths by camouflaging it with a straw mulch mixture. Birds do not typically eat straw, though they may steal a few pieces for their nests.
If all else fails, Long Island landscaping professionals suggest loosely covering the seed and ground with a plastic tarp might just do the trick. Avoid this scheme in the summer months, however, when the heat of the plastic will impede seed growth.
Birds do love their seed, but don’t be discouraged. Landscaping pros say using one or all of these methods will eventually have your birds flying off to filch someone else’s feed.
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