Covering your precious newly planted grass seed with polythene sheeting is not only effective protection from birds but also drying winds and torrential downpours. It is very cheap, easy to lay, and speeds germination. Covering freshly sown grass seed with polythene sheeting to protect it from birds is a great idea.
Unfortunately, while it's waiting to germinate in the dirt, a good portion of it may be eaten by the birds, unless you take proactive steps. Sparrows and finches are your likely culprits.
Adding straw definitely helps grass seed grow. Yes it helps to keep the see from blowing away, but it also helps in other ways. It keeps thebirds from feeding on the seed. If you water your seed, straw will hold the water, moisture in so that you don't have to water as often.
Repellent Sprays. There are several versions of bird repellent sprays you can make at home but the most popular is a concoction of chili peppers, water, and vinegar. To make this spray, crush dried red or green chili peppers into a mixture of water and vinegar.
There are other methods, like buying cloches (plastic or glass), putting plastic bottles with the bottoms cut off them over plants, having a greenhouse, building Things with hardware cloth and actual carpentry skills, and so on.
Covers are especially effective. Netting, chicken wire, or garden fabric can stop birds, rabbits, and squirrels from accessing these tender plants. By protecting young plants, they can become stronger and will be better able to survive the occasional peck and nibble from wild animals as they grow.
Very Small Patchy Areas: For tiny bare spots (think a few inches in diameter), throwing a small amount of seed and keeping the area moist might suffice. However, even in these cases, lightly raking the soil to create some seed-to-soil contact can significantly improve results.
To give your new grass seedlings the essential nutrients they need for fast growth, apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass after you've spread the grass seed.
The ideal method is to use topsoil, mulch, or compost to keep grass seeds covered. These materials can be bought at your local garden center, or you could make them yourself using food scraps.
Aluminum Foil
Birds don't like the feel of the foil under their beaks and will stay away. You can also hang strips of aluminum foil (or shiny party streamers) from the trees or other high points around your home and garden. The sun reflects off the shiny surface and bothers their eyes, deterring them from coming near.
Some of these animals that you might have seen during the day or at night include raccoons, mice, rats, rabbits, skunks, foxes, or even deer, though most still prefer to feed at night. Depending on location, a few other animals that may visit our yards for a midnight snack are opossums, flying squirrels, and bears.
Cover the raised beds with floating row covers or insect (and bird) barriers until they have germinated. Sheer row covers allow sunlight through but keep birds and pests from reaching the beds. Just be sure the seeded rows are well covered until seedlings germinate and really take off.
Very little soil is actually needed to cover the seeds, typically about ¼- inch, so simple raking will do the trick. If the seeds are not properly protected by existing grass or a thin layer of topsoil, they may dry before germination or be washed away by rain.
Use Straw or Mulch
It's cheap and easy to spread, and many DIYers can protect their seed with a few bales of hay or a truck bed full of mulch. The layer over your seeds can also help them germinate, as it creates a moisture barrier around the seed.
Strategically placing a well-crafted decoy owl in a problematic area can show immediate results. While seeing a fake owl will cause birds to avoid landing in the area, it doesn't keep them away for long.
Another great thing about using peat moss on bare spots is how it protects your grass seeds. When you put a light layer of peat moss over your newly planted seeds, you're basically giving them a protective blanket. This keeps the seeds in place, so they don't get washed away by rain or blown away by wind.
The smell of vinegar is very unpleasant for birds. It's a common household item, so you can easily put it in a spray bottle and use it anywhere you want to avoid birds in your garden.
Capsaicin, the compound that gives chilli peppers their heat, is an excellent bird deterrent. Creating a solution of water, chilli pepper, and vinegar can help repel birds from gardens without harming them.