Goodbye Traditional Bird Baths: The 3-In-1 Feeder At Lowe's That Adds Beauty To Your Garden

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There are many benefits of having a bird feeder in your yard, including having charming visitors stopping by every day. If you're limited on space, however, you may be struggling to determine whether something to attract birds, plants, or a pretty decoration is best for your yard. Thanks to a Lowe's product, there might not be any need to decide. The Outsunny 3-in-1 Garden Bird Bath comes with a water bowl, planter, feeder, and a charming little bird statue on top. Plus, the whole piece feels like a decoration that will elevate and add beauty to your garden.

On the top of the structure is a feeder area with a bird in the center. Then there is a bowl for a bird bath. On the bottom, there is also a tray, which is meant to help stabilize the piece or act as a little planter. The whole thing is decorated in an antique bronze color, and it measures 44 ½ inches by 19 ¾ inches. It's made to be weather- and frost-resistant.

On Lowe's website, it has a rating of 4.6 out of five. "Love it. Easy to put together. Product was as described and looks like photo," said a five-star review. If you're looking for something practical and multi-functional while still adding a bit of charm, this is a good choice. However, it does have two flaws to be wary of before making a purchase: its lightness and shallow feeder tray. 

The first problem with this product is that it's light. Despite the bronze color, it is made from plastic. Even when the bowl is full of water, a good breeze could knock it over. It does come with stakes, but they aren't the most secure. On the Lowe's page, the company suggests growing some plants or throwing rocks into the bottom tray to increase the weight.

These can help, but you may also need to take a couple of extra steps. Finding a level surface would keep it more stable and stop it from wobbling as much in the wind. While trying to find the perfect placement, don't forget that to invite beautiful wildlife to the garden, you need to put a bird bath at least 10 feet from thick greenery as well to keep them safe from predators.

You can also screw it into something much more stable. Some people attach it to their deck or patio, for example. This actually may be a better placement for your bird feeder compared to the rest of your yard. It's generally best to place them no further than three feet from your house, though you can also consider around 30 feet away to avoid birds flying into your windows. But at least 10 feet away is a good compromise, according to All About Birds. So, by attaching it to your porch or deck, you may not only be creating a more stable 3-in-1 bird bath, but a safer one as well.

Another common issue with this product is the design. The feeding tray is flat, small, and sits directly above the water bowl. It's also narrower in diameter. Because it has no solid sides, if you don't fill it just right, you risk seeds falling off the level into the water below. "This is a very nice birdbath. However, the birdfeeder is pretty unusable as it holds very little bird seed. It needs some type of barrier around the feeder to keep the seed from falling out," said a four-star review.

You can try tips and tricks to get the perfect fill, but as soon as your birds visit, you risk them knocking the seeds around, still making a mess. While you could probably come up with some DIY to make it more practical, the easiest and safest solution is to just keep it as clean as possible. But instead of cleaning it out only two or three times a week, aim to do it daily. It's extra work, but it stops birdseed from molding and your bath growing unhealthy bacteria that can make your flying visitors sick. Don't just rinse it out with a little water, either. You need to know the smart tips to keep your birdbath beautiful, including what cleaning products to use to truly kill off anything that might be growing, like white vinegar, baking soda paste, or mild and unscented soap.