so we've been feeding the little birdies since middle of last summer. during the winter i ended up with a great big bag of sunflower seeds in the shells, so that's what they've been enjoying since dec-ish. of course in their pleasure they have left sunflower seed hulls and their poop all over the yard. we have lots of snow cover so their mess is quite visible right now -- but the snow should be melting in the next few days, at least partially.

so the question is, should i try to excise the hulls and poop from the snow before it melts? or should i try to spread it around across the yard? don't know if either bird poop or hulls will do good or bad to the soil / grass / flowers / veggies. its mostly finches and a few pigeons if that matters.

thanks!

-adam-

If you have a mulching lawn mower, I might do nothing. Sorta "This too shall decompose". Or, you could rake it into your compost pile-bin.

IMO the most obkectionable part of bird feeding is what ever is left visable. With squirrels being a major player in leaving visable messes (hulls).

There's been a lot of posts and information posted on these Forums about allelopathic reactions of sunflower plants and their spent seed hulls. Allelopathy means the ability of a plant and/or it's parts (including seed) to produce a a biochemical substance that is toxic to surrounding plants or other seeds' germination, in order for it to survive and vie for the growing space. Most of the toxins are produced in the sunflower's roots. But, can be taken up by all parts of the plant, including the seed. Proven by a number of sources, sunflowers are even being used to control weed growth in many fields and farms. There is some debate about the composting of the seed or seed hulls however. Whereas some folk see no harm, others are dead set against it. The debate surrounds whether or not your pile can achieve and maintain extremely high enough temperatures to negate the allelopathic toxins. But, if you're like many of us, whose piles either don't get hot enough or even if they do, they can't maintain it long enough to do any good, then I, personally, wouldn't take the chance and add them.

RE: Sunflower alleopathy: In Fine Gardening issue #37, May/June 1994,

Frank Einhellig, plant physiologist of Southwest Missouri State
University replied:
"Sunflowers produce a number of compounds in their stems, leaves,andin the hulls of their seeds that will
inhibit the growth of avariety of plants. Mulching with sunflower hulls could harm plantsbecause toxins
could leach from the hulls into the soil and inhibit thegrowth of susceptible plants. Leaving hulls on
the ground, and allowed to accumulate, can, overtime, kill grass."


On some of these, you'll just have to scan the pages to find the info:

http://www.wm.edu/biology/bio405/allelopathy.html
http://www.nbgs.org/resources/seasonal/tips_nov-dec.shtml

On this one, scroll down to "allelopathic crops":
http://home.hccnet.nl/v.kleven/Allelopathy.htm

Personally, I've used them as a mulch or weed supressent on a pathway through the woods behind my house, that I'm constantly trying to keep delineated and weed free.

In the end, it comes down to assessing whatever research you can do and choosing what you think best.

Hope some of this helps.

gardenz

Adam. Gardenz' reply points up something I knew and got off track with my dislike of squirrels.

Composting and raking issues aside, I think your going to want to buy less (or none) sunflower seeds due to the fact that over time they will hurt your lawn. The birds will do fine with other seeds.

PS.: Gardenz Is right, and boy am I jealous of her skill as a writer!

yikes! i'll clean them up this weekend!

and i will alert my father-in-law to show his generosity in ways OTHER than big bags of sunflower seeds in the shell - i generally buy a mix that if it has sunflower seeds, they are already shelled - and the pigeons / squirels usually take care of any that end up on the ground.

thanks.

-adam-