Don't Toss Leftover Sunflower Seeds When There Are 11 Clever Ways To Repurpose Them

Crunchy, salty, and sometimes even flavored, sunflower seeds make tasty road trip and sporting game snacks and great treats for many wildlife animals. Some people even use it as party favors or for a wedding tradition. Many of us may assume that the only thing you really can do with sunflower seeds is eat them, but that's not true. While it may be tempting, don't toss leftover sunflower seeds and shells when you can use them as mulch or suet cakes as some of the 11 clever ways to repurpose them.

Sunflower seeds are in two broad sections, non-oilseed and oilseed. Confection seeds are non-oilseed sunflowers. Nusun, linoleic, and high oleic are considered oilseed. Non-oilseeds are the fan-favorite snacks at sport games while oilseed ones are great to make oil and give as animal food. Either can be used for repurposing. When using your leftover sunflower seeds for projects in and outside your home, there are some factors we need to consider. First, if you plan on using these seeds for any kind of animal consumption, you want to make sure they are safe to eat and haven't been around chemicals or other harmful matter. If you have a mix of hulls and seeds, you may find it easier by sorting them out before you begin. Also remember that sunflower seeds do decompose even if it is very slowly. Make sure to watch out for signs of rot or mildew before using your leftover seeds.

Sunflower seeds make great mulch in your garden since they can be allelopathic, whereby they release a natural chemical that hinders some plants from growing properly. Keep weeds away by tossing sunflower hulls on the outskirts of your plants, acting like mulch. This is a great way to repurpose used sunflower seeds around your bird feeder as well. Crush the hulls if you want them to decompose faster in your garden. If not, expect them to last a few months. Since it is a food, pests like rodents and ants may be attracted to it.

Take your leftover sunflower seeds and feed your backyard birds by making them into a suet cake. While you can buy them, you can save money by DIYing your own. This bird treat is food made from rendered animal fat and a mix of fruit, bird feed, and seeds. Find a recipe and follow the instructions. Once you finish the cake, don't forget about the best place to put a suet hanger in your yard for birds. Then watch as woodpeckers, jays, robins, and sparrows come flocking to your sunflower seed suet cake.

An easy and creative way to repurpose the sunflower seeds around your home is to create seed wall art. If you're a parent, you can also let your kiddos use the seeds to make their very own masterpieces. Create collages, use it as an accent piece, or use it as the main focal point. There are limitless possibilities that you can come up with. Just remember to let the project fully dry before hanging or setting out. To prolong your artwork's longevity, use dry seeds and keep it in a moist-free area.

Because sunflower seeds are full of nutrient-rich proponents, don't miss the opportunity of throwing your sunflower shells into your compost pile. Even though they are allelopathic, these decomposed seeds won't affect your compost if done properly. Since sunflower hulls take a while to deteriorate, make sure to grind or crush them up before throwing in. You'll need to also mix around the compost every so often, letting the mixture aerate to decay faster. These seeds are also prone to mold and rodent activity, so make sure to monitor the pile to keep your home and yard safe.

Easily ignite your fire every time by using sunflower seed hulls as a fuel source. Before you begin, you need to make sure your seed shells are dry. Once ready, take your dried hulls and throw them into your kindling stack and then light it on fire. Once the hulls ignite, you can add twigs to grow the fire. You also can make your own fire log by using seeds in your mixture. Whether you are doing the coffee filter or the paper method, make sure to follow all instructions before adding in your husks.

A useful way to repurpose sunflower seeds is to add them to animal feed if you have livestock like chickens, sheep, or cattle. Sunflower hulls have protein, lipids, sugars, and carbohydrates, giving these animals a good dose of fiber. However, it is important to remember to combine the hulls with other food that has more nutritional value to ensure your animals stay healthy. The best way to use seeds in their feed is to grind them and mix them into the food. Take your repurposing to the next level by also using the hulls as livestock bedding.

Take your leftover sunflower seeds and create seed bombs with them. These small ball-shaped items are a combination of sunflower seeds, clay, and soil that you plant in your garden. By following the right amount of moisture and sunlight exposure, the clay will protect your seeds from diseases and pests while the soil will help provide it nutrients over time. Eventually, the seeds will begin to grow, sprouting out beautiful sunflowers. When making these, make sure to follow the instructions of the recipe you find. 

Potpourri is an old-school way to keep your home smelling fresh while using your leftover sunflower seeds. For this hack, you'll need to roast or flavor your sunflower seeds, so they can give off a slight aroma. Then, add them to other dried elements, including other seeds, pinecones, herbs, and flowers. If you have sunflowers, set those in, too, to bring together the scents. Place your mixture in a bowl and then set out on a counter to create an aromatic home. As a homemade potpourri, change it out every couple of months.

When you have leftover sunflower seeds, you can easily plant them in your yard. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are pretty easy to grow and if you have a large, sunny backyard, you already have the best spot in your garden to plant your sunflower. Best grown in USDA hardiness zones of 2 through 11, place your sunflower seeds directly into your soil with fertilizer and water, and wait for them to grow. Expect blooms to emerge over the summer, making it a beautiful addition to your flower garden. These yellow flowers also attract many pollinators, like butterflies and birds.

Create a natural, rustic vibe by filling your vases and bowls with sunflower seeds. Take shelled seeds and pour them into a glass container. Then, stick your flowers, cooking utensils, makeup brushes, pens, or other decorative elements inside. Having a party with cake pops or lollipops? Place them into your sunflower seed vase to bring your entire party together. Just remember that even though it is a sustainable method, you'll need to replace the seeds every year before the shells decompose.

Create unique home decorations with your leftover seeds by making sculptures and figurines. The best way to accomplish this project is to use clay. Take the crafting material and mold it into whatever shape you like. To make a sunflower seed figurine, take your clay and make a stem, leaves, and the flower base. Then, grab your seeds and place them on the base, creating your own petals. Once done, let it dry and then set out.