I bet sunflowers will grow.

The residue from birdseed is often allelopathic. That's why it is difficult to plant under them. I use urns in the summer, planted with already grown material and these can overcome to a certain extent the natural sprout inhibiting factors of bird seed residue.

A possible alternative would be to add a seed hull catcher of some kind (I'm thinking a shelf that's a bit bigger than the feeder and has a bit of a lip) and clean it out when you feed the birds.

I'm curious as to what you do to keep the squirrels out.

I have a pole birdfeeder with stove pipe baffle and
nothing underneath. I did have otto luykens at one point but I think they were too big for the area. I kept them cut fairly low but then they developed thick stumpy areas that the squirrels used most effectively to launch themselves and avoid the baffle completly.

I now have mulch under the area and lots of nearby plants but nothing directly underneath although in part to make it easier for me to fill the feeder, which is high off the ground.

I have a gazebo feeder on a wooden post as well. I have 2 fairy roses planted under it, and they do so well! And they're just thorny enough to keep the neighbors cat a few feet away . The squirrel can jump over them but he dosnt bother me. in a week or so it'll be blooming and I'll remember to take and post a pic. I also have a clematis planted there and it seems fine.

a couple cement patio stones.. as the seed will sprout weeds into plants under

if you insist.. pot something disposable and place under ... so when it gets to be too big a mess you can.. wait for it.. dispose of it.. lol ...

ken

Thanks all,

Bumblebeez...I'm sorry to have to break the news about my squirrel deterent, because it may not be something that is feasible for you, but my all time cure for squirrels is a big lazy dog that hangs out on the porch and hates squirrels, but doesn't mind birds. Keeps the raccoons away, too!

Ken...you're right, birdseed does sprout all over the area, so I thought about a couple of Karl Forrester grass clumps. It's annual though and I need a perennial. I'll try big pots. Good suggestion...but now...what to put in the pots?!

nhbabs...a seed catcher wouldn't work for my circumstance, because I have such a variety of birds. Many of them are gound-feeders, and many are just opportunists that don't mind accomodating the ground feeders by scratching the feed from every horizontal surface. They even crawl, climb, scramble "INTO" the plastic bag of feed and make a terrible mess scratching it all out onto the porch. I've watched them with amazement at how brazen they are. (Just like little chickens. heehee)

Hi,

I have a feeder with a torpedo baffle. The baffle is enough to keep the squirrel off the feeder, but you need a 1-1/2 foot baffle to keep out raccoons.

The seed will kill off most things underneath it, you can add a seed catcher to reduce the seed fall. I would suggest mulching the area underneath or vacuum the area with a shop vac often.

I've been pretty lucky with growing the following under my birdfeeder:

Geranium "Roxanne'
Geranium 'Tiny Monster'
Lupinus 'Blue Shades'
Iris pallida variegata
Heuchera 'Plum Pudding'

Best of luck!

I have a box wood and tulips and iris and so far ice plant growing great under my feeders. and comfrey. plus millet and sunflowers volunteer and the birds love

My feeder actually straddles the edge between a small area of grass and my perennial garden beds. I have the Wild Birds Unlimited pole system with a built-in large seed catcher tray, as well as seed catcher trays on individual feeders hanging from the poles. I also invested this winter in some better seed blends, but still had some sunflower and safflower seeds mixed in. And you know what? I'm here to tell you it still makes a giant mess. I am not sure that it really matters what you plant underneath of the feeders. I think the most important thing to remember when feeding birds is that you have to be committed to doing regular cleaning (of the feeders and the ground around them) to really make it work. Here's what I have been doing to keep it (moderately) under control. There are still sunflower hulls around, and I'm sure that a seed or two will sprout. But by using ONLY sunflower or safflower seeds (no "wild bird mix" or other blends), you minimize issues.

WINTER CLEANUP:

When there is snow on the ground, I go up to the site about every two weeks or so with a utility sled and simply shovel the top layer of snow (coated in seeds and hulls) into the sled, then I haul the sled to my compost pile and dump it. When there is no snow on the ground, I use the spring/summer/fall cleanup method.

SPRING/SUMMER/FALL CLEANUP:

Two words: Rake and Shopvac. That's it. About every two weeks or so.

Good luck!

Try cone flowers. I have exactly the same problem, love the birds and the sunflower seeds cause something to go wrong with the soil. I think there are others flowers in that same family that would do, but my cone flowers have come back for their second season better than ever.