- After sowing grass seed, you can lay down a thin layer of straw. The straw not only hides the grass seed from the birds, but also it helps retain moisture and keep the soil cool under the hot sun. You don't need to remove the straw after the seeds germinate. If the straw is left in place to protect the grass seedlings, it will decay and add nutrients into the soil.
- Cheesecloth is a thin cloth that allows sunlight and water to pass through to the germinating seeds. Place cheesecloth over the newly seeded lawn to cover the seed. Birds and other wildlife cannot eat the seeds through the cloth. When the grass seedlings appear, you can remove the cheesecloth and allow the grass to continue growing.
- Scarecrows once were popular to keep birds out of gardens. Today, you can use aluminum pie tins, shiny sliver streamers or any object that is lightweight that will blow in the wind or move from the breeze created by the bird's wings as it flies around the grass seed. Scare tactics can work well on birds.
- Although grass seed is sown on the top of the soil, you can sow the seed and cover it with a thin layer of topsoil. Topsoil will hide the seeds from the birds. The seeds will take a little longer to germinate, but the birds will not be able to eat the seeds. If you use the topsoil to cover the seed, you can tamp the soil down lightly with your hand so the ground is flat and not lumpy or uneven.
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