How to keep birds away from my sunflowers?

Sandra
by Sandra
Birds ate my sunflower buds! I'll plant more seeds but any tips?

  10 answers
  • Amy B Reineri Amy B Reineri on Jun 14, 2018

    Birds LOVE sunflowers. They will eat any part of them they can. If there is another food source, you might fill them up OR they might need a water source OR you can spray a solution of boiling water poured into a canning quart of chopped dried red peppers and then left to sit 48 hours before putting it in a spray bottle. The cayenne that is extracted covers the "yummy" scent that draws birds, squirrels or deer to things they like to eat. If works pretty well - lasts a while, but re-apply if it has been really rainy.

  • Leona E Falgout Leona E Falgout on Jun 14, 2018

    You can put netting around them or cut strips of aluminum foil around the plant

  • Dianacirce70 Dianacirce70 on Jun 14, 2018

    You can get some avian netting at a home store and drape it over the flowers

  • William William on Jun 14, 2018

    I agree with the netting. That is what I did only I used the mesh screening fabric and tied it loosely around the stem.

  • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Jun 14, 2018

    When you see a field full of sunflowers, you know the birds have a picnic twice a day. It’s nature. Are you planting the Sunflowers for flower arrangements? If so, try to protect a small area for that purpose. And keep planting more delicious sunflowers for the birds. But the birds’ messy eating and pooping is one way the seeds are spread and fertilized. ☺️

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Jun 15, 2018

    Probably the best way is to cover the heads with netting fine enough that the birds cannot get through, attach it around the stalk just before the head. Reminds me of a shower cap for a sunflower!

  • Linda Linda on Jun 17, 2018

    Cover with fishing net. Prop it up a bit with sticks and limbs.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Mar 16, 2023

    Best to just cover them, only problem with that is it might keep the bees out.

  • Mogie Mogie on Apr 03, 2023

    Grow some for both you and the birds. Put netting over your sun flowers.