When most people think of gardening, they think of planting seeds in the ground and watching them grow into plants and there are a lot of different things that you can do to make your plot of land look great.
One option that many people don’t think about is planting bird seed.
Planting bird seed can be a great way to add some color and life to your garden which will encourage a variety of wildlife, birds included. It’s also a great experiment as you never really know what the end results will be.
What will a bag of bird seed grow into?
Most bags of bird seed contain a wide variety of seeds from sunflowers through to grasses and you’ll never truly know what the packet will grow into until they grow fully.
Part of the fun of sowing mixed seeds such as bird seed is the unknown and not knowing what the end results will be.
If you are really keen to get an idea of what your bird seeds will grow into then why not take a look at the label to get an indication?
When is the best time to plant bird seed?
The best time to plant bird seed will vary depending on your location.
In general, you’ll want to plant bird seed after the last frosts in early Spring when the ground is beginning to warm up and the daylight levels are increasing.
How to plant bird seed?
There are a few options:
Simple scatter the seeds on the ground randomly, anywhere that you see fit and see what happens.
Cultivate a seed bed by raking the soil until it becomes fine and then cast the seeds onto the earth before watering.
Plant the seeds in large pots of compost and then place them outside in a sheltered spot to grow.
Make sure that your seeds are not exposed to frost and keep them well watered, also do not allow them to dry out.
You may also have to protect them from, of all things, birds who will be keen to swoop down and eat your seeds.
It is bird seed after all.
What to do if you don’t have a garden?
If you don’t have your own garden then there are still ways that you can plant bird seed.
One option is to find a public park or green space where you can scatter the seeds and watch them grow.
Alternatively, many people like to sow their bird seed in planters and window boxes which can be placed on a balcony or even on the windowsill.
This is a great way to get involved with gardening, even if you don’t have your own space.
The benefits of planting bird seed
There are a few key benefits to planting bird seed:
1. It’s a great way to add some colour and life to your garden.
2. It encourages a variety of wildlife, birds included.
3. It’s a fun experiment to see what different sorts of plants will grow.
4. You can do it anywhere, even if you don’t have your own garden.
5. It’s a great way to get involved in gardening, even if you don’t have a lot of space.
6. It’s a great way to connect with nature.
7. It’s a great way to learn about different plants and their growing habits.
8. It’s a great way to teach children about gardening and nature.
9. It’s a great way to save money on flowers and plants.
10. It’s a great way to help the environment by providing somewhere for birds to nest and feed.
What’s the best type of bird seed to plant?
To get the best results always choose bird seed that has not been processed in anyway and try to make an organic selection.
Some bird seeds have undergone heat treatment or have been flavoured with additives and other chemicals.
Seeds that that been treated may not germinate easily, if at all and, the other matter is that some of your seeds will get eaten by wildlife – and really do you want birds and other animals to be eating processed foods?
Final words
When you are sowing bird seed, it’s always a bit of an adventure to see what will grow.
Some plants will flourish and others will wither and die, but that’s all part of the fun.
Remember to keep an eye on your plants and water them regularly, especially if you are growing them in pots.
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