How to Clean Up Bird Seed on the Ground: A Complete Guide

I can bet with pretty good accuracy that most people are not cleaning their bird feeders correctly. It’s simple to believe that the rain or a quick spray from the hose will clean and germ-free your birdbaths and feeders. When I started to really look into it, I found out that dirty bird feeders are breeding grounds for diseases that can really hurt our feathered friends, and sometimes people and their pets too.

Our bird feeding stations and water sources are places where birds gather. Some in great numbers. Those groups create the mechanisms for the spread of disease. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology says that House Finch Eye Disease, Avian Pox, and Salmonellosis are common illnesses that birds get from feeders and sometimes from drinking water that isn’t clean. In May 2021, the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 29 people in 12 U. S. States were sickened and 14 hospitalized in 2021 by Salmonella originating from dirty bird feeders. A mysterious illness also killed a lot of young songbirds in the summer of 2021 in several Mid-Atlantic states, which led to a temporary ban on feeding birds. To help stop the spread, make sure that your bird feeders and water sources are cleaned regularly with a 10% bleach solution. Getting rid of seed waste on the ground, cleaning railings, banisters, and other places where birds gather, buying feeders with designs that are easy to clean, and remembering to clean your birdbaths often will also make a big difference in the health of your birding ecosystem.

Bird feeding is an enjoyable hobby that allows you to connect with nature right in your own backyard. However, one frustrating downside is the mess that fallen seeds and hulls can make on the ground below your feeders. Not only is this an eyesore, but it can also lead to the spread of bacteria and disease if left unchecked.

Luckily with some simple tools and techniques, you can effectively clean up the area under your bird feeders. In this complete guide you’ll learn exactly how to tackle this common bird feeding dilemma.

Why You Need to Clean Up Under Bird Feeders

Before jumping into the how-to it’s important to understand why cleaning up fallen seeds and hulls is so crucial for a healthy backyard bird habitat. Here are the top reasons

  • Prevents bacteria growth Wet, moldy seeds are breeding grounds for harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E coli This can sicken birds and other wildlife.

  • Limits pests: Messy areas under feeders attract unwanted critters like rats, mice, and squirrels.

  • Avoids rotting seeds: Uneaten, soggy seeds will decay and smell bad if left on the ground.

  • Protects plants: Certain seeds contain growth-inhibiting chemicals. Sunflower hulls, for example, can prevent grass and plants from growing properly.

  • Maintains soil health: An overabundance of discarded seeds can throw off the composition of your soil.

  • Discourages large bird flocks: Large quantities of fallen seeds will attract nuisance birds like pigeons, grackles, and starlings.

How Often Should You Clean Under Bird Feeders?

To reap the benefits above, it’s recommended to clean up waste from under your bird feeders about once a week. However, certain situations call for more frequent cleanings:

  • High traffic areas: If lots of birds visit your feeders daily, aim for 2-3 cleanings per week.

  • Hot weather: Seeds rot faster when it’s hot and humid. During summer, clean up waste at least twice weekly.

  • Active breeding season: With lots of birds around in spring, be vigilant about removing old seeds and hulls.

  • Disease outbreaks: Clean daily to limit the spread of illnesses like salmonellosis or avian influenza.

  • Newly sprouted seeds: Pick up any freshly sprouted seedlings as soon as you spot them.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Under Bird Feeders

Ready to tackle that messy area? Here is a step-by-step guide to effectively cleaning up waste under your bird feeders:

Gather Your Tools

First, collect the following cleaning tools and supplies:

  • Stiff broom or outdoor push broom
  • Small shovel or scoop
  • Garden rake
  • Dustpan
  • Heavy duty work gloves
  • Sealable plastic bags or trash bin
  • Garden hose with spray nozzle

Optional extras:

  • Power or pressure washer
  • Leaf blower
  • Seed digester spray

Thoroughly Sweep or Rake

Put on gloves and carefully sweep or rake the entire area under and around your feeders. Scoop up all spilled seeds, hulls, and seedlings and place debris into trash bags.

Be sure to check under decks or porches where seeds may accumulate. Rake or sweep right up to the base of each feeder pole.

Aim to remove all visible seeds, hulls, sprouts, and plant matter from the soil surface.

Blast Away Stuck-On Debris

If seeds or hulls are stuck to the ground, use your hose or a power washer on a low setting to blast them away. Avoid excessive watering of the area.

Alternatively, a strong leaf blower on full power can blow away lodged seeds. Wear eye protection.

Apply Seed Digester

For persistent hulls and seeds stuck in cracks or lawn, apply an eco-safe seed digester spray. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse away with a gentle spray of water.

Seed digesters contain natural enzymes to break down hard seed coats and hulls. This makes removal much easier.

Remove Top Layer of Soil or Sod

For really stubborn, impacted areas, removing the top 1-2 inches of soil or sod may be necessary. Use a square tip shovel to lightly skim off the surface layer where seeds are trapped.

Discard the waste soil and re-sod or simply rake smooth. Grass and weeds will regrow quickly.

Power Wash Hard Surfaces

Use a pressure washer on driveways, sidewalks, patios, or other hard surfaces to blast off clinging seeds or hulls. Wear protective gear to avoid splash back.

Disinfect Feeder Poles and Hanging Hardware

Give your feeder poles and hanging hooks or chains a quick disinfecting as well. Use a scrub brush and solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.

This kills any bacteria that may transfer from birds’ feet to feeders. Rinse thoroughly and let air dry.

Remove Trash Bags Promptly

Immediately dispose of all collected waste and debris in sealed trash bags. Never compost discarded bird seed or hulls.

Tips for Preventing Mess in the First Place

Prevention is the best solution! Here are handy tips to minimize fallen seeds and hulls:

  • Use quality bird seed – birds will waste less.

  • Offer seeds with no shells (e.g. peanuts, nyjer).

  • Separate messy blends into specialty feeders.

  • Add tray catchers under feeders.

  • Move feeders away from ledges and perches.

  • Position feeders over hard surfaces, not soil or grass.

  • Discourage large flocks from gathering.

  • Eliminate places for birds to perch near feeders.

Alternative Ground Surfaces Below Feeders

If cleaning up fallen seeds feels never-ending, consider installing an alternate ground surface under your feeder area. This will make clean-up much simpler long-term. Some options include:

  • Paving stones, bricks, or concrete patio

  • Landscape fabric covered with mulch or gravel

  • Shallow sand pit or inexpensive above-ground pool liner

  • Tarp suspended under feeders to catch waste

With a little routine maintenance, you can easily stay on top of the seed mess under your feeders. Follow these tips to keep your bird feeding areas clean, healthy, and inviting for local birds. Most importantly, be sure to properly dispose of collected waste and never compost discarded bird food. Your feathered friends will thank you!

Get to those Gathering Places

Bird waste on your decks, patio, railings, window sills, and outdoor furniture can spread illness to humans, pets, and other wild birds. Make sure you’re regularly cleaning and disinfecting these areas and removing any accumulated bird poop. I use a great product called Poop-Off that helps loosen and whisk away any stubborn waste stains.

Your Ground Game Counts

Putting seed hulls and old seeds under your feeders can make a moldy mess that could make birds and other animals in your yard sick or kill them. Accumulated ground waste can also attract unwanted furry friends like mice and rats. The ground will not magically absorb all of your seed waste. Make sure you are regularly sweeping up and discarding fallen seeds on your decks and patios. Get under the deck space, too, to remove the seeds that may have fallen through the deck slats. You will be surprised at how quickly waste can accumulate.

Give a monthly to bi-weekly raking around ground feeders and discard seed residue in the trash. The jury is out on whether you should compost seed waste and, if so, just how much. People have told me not to use it, especially sunflower seed hulls, because they are allopathic and may stop other plants in the same area from growing.

Some folks use sunflower hulls as mulch as their allopathic qualities can reduce weeds, but I’m a bit wary of this due to the propensity of seed waste to become moldy. You will easily find competing opinions on this online, and as one smart gardening blogger pointed out, “This is all fairly new science, and we don’t have many answers.”

A clever product I’ve seen on Amazon with great reviews is a hull digester spray. It gets high marks for helping dissolve seed waste and greatly reduces bird seedlings sprouting under bird feeders. You attach it to your hose and spray areas where birdseed accumulates.

How I Clean The Mess UNDER My Bird Feeders!

FAQ

How do I get rid of bird seeds in my lawn?

When the seed has fallen and taken root, your best option is to take a rake to the affected area. Use the rake to disturb and pull up any sprouting seeds to not only remove what is there but help prevent future growth. It’s recommended to rake the area beneath a feeder several times a month.

How to stop bird seed falling on the ground DIY?

Attach a Tray to your bird feeders Another great way to stop bird seed from growing under feeders is by attaching a tray to the bottom of your feeders to catch falling seeds. They come in various sizes and can be used on different feeders.

Is it OK to throw birdseed on the ground?

Provide seed from a bird feeder rather than scattering it on the ground. Keep areas clean under and around your feeders. Keep fresh seed in the feeder and be sure it doesn’t get moldy. Clean your bird feeders regularly with a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water.

How to get rid of old bird seed?

If the old seed looks wet, clumpy and moldy, then dump it into the trash. If the old seed looks okay, then spread it on the ground for the sparrows and doves to eat. The ground-feeding birds like to eat, too, you know.

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