Leave out the weed membrane?

Maybe there are alternative solutions but currently I'm planning on laying down some slate chippings under the bird feeder because the birds (especially the pigeons) have ruined this part of the lawn.

I was going to put down some weed membrane first but I'm wondering if this will simply create a horrible mush (droppings and bird feed scraps) under the chippings? Instead, should I just lay the chippings on top of the soil where the mush will simply breakdown into the soil?

Of course, I'd have to keep pulling out grass and weeds, but perhaps better than creating something very undesirable.

In fact, is the whole project not a good idea? Perhaps cement instead so that it's washable, just not as nice looking?

Thanks very much.

 

I think the membrane option might prove messy in the long run, so think clippings on their own would be better.
A few years ago I had a small rat problem where they were feeding on the bits of seed that had fallen below the feeders so we created hanging saucers under the feeders. This stopped the rat problem and also you don’t get all the bird feed scraps falling to the ground.

We just used plastic plant saucers and attached them to the feeders with wire. Lots of birds use the saucers to feed from as well, the robins and bullfinches especially.

 

Why not make it into a flower bed?

 

Low growing (dwarf), bushy evergreen shrubs would hide the mess, suppress the weeds and make an attractive "collar" to the feeder. Rain will (technically ) rinse the mess from the foliage.

 

Slate chippings are light enough for birds the size of Blackbirds to move around, so will defeat the object of laying them. I sunk slabs into the lawn around mine so that the lawnmower would go straight over them. They made a difference with most visiting birds apart from Pheasants which destroyed the lawn around the edges of the slabs. If they get mucky all they need is some water and a brush to clean them off.

 

I’d move the feeding station into a border, near shrubs and trees where the birds can shelter and plan their visits to the feeder. Many birds like to take the seed away to eat or feed their young. If you widen the border and underplant it with ground cover plants you won’t see a mess, especially if you use no mess seed mixes.

 

Wow, so many ideas and all possible, spoilt for choice now!

Low growing bushes seem like a good choice. I really haven't got a clue about which evergreens. Any recommendations? How many would I need? The diameter of the ring is 90cm.

Yes, I noticed the Tits and Robins like to take the sunflower seeds away to eat them in the trees. The Starlings like to hammer away at the suet block seemingly leaving half of it on the floor. It's the Goldfinches that are the messy eaters! The Parakeets can be a bit messy too.

Thank you.

 

From experience, if it doesn't rain any mess on the foliage of plants will dry out and set hard, creating a permanent mess on the plants.