Get expert bird feeder landscaping ideas. Learn the best ways to use perennial plants to attract birds and beautify your feeder space.
Bird Feeder Landscaping Ideas: Disguise the Brown Patch
Published on May 07, 2025
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Surround Bird Feeders With Plants
There are few cheerier sights than that of lively, colorful birds visiting backyard feeders. That is, until your gaze moves to the brown patch below. However, by planting around it with these bird feeder landscaping ideas, you can create not only an eye-catching flower garden, but one that supports birds’ diets.
“Plants that provide seed and nectar-filled flowers are a great way to not only beautify the area, but also supplement the food you provide with feeders,” says horticultural expert Melinda Myers. “Plantings are rich with insects, which some 96% of North American terrestrial birds eat as part of their diet.”
Embrace the Brown Patch
Use the area directly beneath the feeders as a template for where not to plant. Leave the ground bare, or cover it with pavers or smooth medium-sized landscaping stones. This setup makes for easy cleanup using a rake, broom or wet/dry vacuum, which is an important part of ensuring bird health.
The buildup of fecal matter, as well as wet, moldy seed hulls beneath feeders can lead to respiratory distress in birds, and bacterial diseases, says wildlife biologist Todd Schneider of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. “We recommend raking every couple days if you have a lot of feeding going on. It reduces the volume of those disease organisms, especially if there’s lots of moisture.” Experts also recommend wearing gloves and a mask to avoid inhaling fungal spores.
Aside from providing a healthy environment, keeping the area under feeders plant free prevents a chemical produced from sunflower seed hulls and the plants that sprout from tossed seeds from inhibiting nearby plants from growing—a biological phenomenon called allelopathy.
What’s more, it’s easier to pull volunteer plants from sprouting millet and milo seed, and you won’t have droppings marring the plants or tiny feet and beaks tearing them up. “You reduce the risk of ground-feeding turkeys moving in to dine on the seed and damaging plants, as was my experience,” Melinda says.
Choose the Right Bird Feeder Plants
A bird-feeder garden features well-behaved perennial flowers, grasses and ferns planted around the area beneath the feeders. Choose relatively low-growing species that are no taller than half the height of the feeder pole at maturity to prevent squirrels from using them as launching pads to the feeders.
In addition to plant height, look for plants that thrive in available sunlight and create year-round interest for you and the birds. “Make sure you have plants that flower at different times, providing nectar for hummingbirds, orioles and pollinators,” Melinda says. “Look for those that support all stages of insects, and that produce seeds, such as black-eyed Susans and blazing stars.”
Prepare the Area Around the Feeder
Before planting, leave an opening in the front that is wide enough to provide access to the feeders. Install low-growing plants such as dwarf turtlehead or little bluestem on both sides of the opening. Add mid-sized plants such as white wood aster, salvia or maidenhair fern in the center.
In the back, consider slightly taller plants such as butterfly weed, prairie dropseed and purple coneflower. These suggested plants do have varying needs when it comes to sunlight, so be sure to check that they will work with the amount of light or shade that your feeder space gets.
This bird-feeder garden is meant to be airy and neat. To that end, consider installing edging to prevent surrounding grass from encroaching on the area. Space plants generously, and mulch between them. But avoid mulching over landscape fabric, Melinda says. “Organic mulch breaks down, forming compost over the barrier and allowing seeds to sprout and grow through the fabric.”
Maintain the New Garden
To maintain the garden, prune lower leaves to eliminate hiding spots for predators, and cut back plants growing into the area beneath the feeders. If plants get too tall, trim them. Too wide? Divide them. Leave seed heads for food later in the season and leaves for overwintering insects, such as butterflies.
These bird feeder landscaping ideas provide birds with food in one spot year-round, from purchased seed in the coldest months to insects in spring and summer to seed heads in fall and winter. What’s more, it transforms the often bare ground into a vibrant, harmonious space that complements the colorful birds above.
Nectar Plants for Hummingbirds
Attract hummingbirds to your bird-feeder garden with these plants:
- Cardinal flower, Zones 3 to 9
- Dwarf hairy beardtongue, Zones 3 to 8
- Columbine, Zones 3 to 8
- Phlox, Zones 3 to 9
- Jewelweed, Zones 2 to 11
About the Experts
Todd M. Schneider is a wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Nongame Conservation Section.
Melinda Myers is the official gardening expert for Birds & Blooms. She is a TV/radio host, author and columnist who has written more than 20 gardening books. Melinda earned a master’s degree in horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
