Planting Under Bird Feeders

What can I plant under my bird feeders that will grow? The fallen birdseed seems to stunt the grass.

Sunflowers are allelopathic. They contain a substance that prevents competing plants from growing near by.  This is an effective survival mechanism used by black walnuts, buckthorn and some other plants.  Try mulching directly under the feeder.  This will help reduce weeds, conserve the soil and reduce the need to hand trim the grass around the feeder.  Or plant groundcovers and flowers just outside the mulched area.  Many of the groundcovers will creep into the mulched area while the taller flowers will mask the view. Now you have a "garden" instead of a dead lawn area.

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