If you take a look around your garden, you'll usually see a few birds lurking nearby. In many ways, these creatures are a welcome addition to your outdoor space because they can also feed on unwanted pests. But there are also some disadvantages to allowing birds to roam freely in your garden: the birds nibble on the fruits and vegetables, dig holes in the ground in search of worms and larvae, and eat pollinators. If you want to keep birds away from these greens and protect your fruits and vegetables in the garden, you will find good tips here.
Keep birds away with plant protection net
Creating barriers with garden netting is probably the most effective way to keep birds away. Plant protection nets protect plants from hungry wildlife, but beneficial insects like honey bees can still get through to pollinate them.
But be careful!
It is very important to be careful and attentive when using nets. Always pull nets tightly as loose nets are an invitation for animals to become entangled. Standard bird nets (with holes larger than 1cm) can be the most dangerous to wildlife. Animals can get caught in such nets because it is easier for them to stick a snout, head, beak or leg through. It's better to avoid green nets and find, for example, a blue, fine net that is better for birds. This also protects your plantsother pests such as cherry fruit flies, aphids, bugs, etc
You should also invest in high-quality, UV-resistant netting that will last for years. The usual cheap green netting is not durable – it tears and breaks, posing a danger to wildlife and the environment.
Protect your kitchen garden from birds with garden fleece
Garden fleece is often used to protect plants from frost in the cold months, but it can also be used all year round to protect smaller plants from birds. Place the fine, white material over ityour chardand lettuce to discourage the birds in your neighborhood from harvesting your vegetables before you have the chance. Weigh down the sides with rocks or stakes and roll the fleece back when it's time to harvest.
Use reflective objects to scare away birds
Shiny objects scare birds away, so any reflective surface can serve as a deterrent. You can use a variety of household items: old CDs, cake pans, shiny aluminum foil ribbons, and reflective tape.
Wind chimes in the kitchen garden
Items that produce sudden sounds or movements, such as wind chimes, can be very effective and practical bird deterrents. If you want to use wind chimes to deter local birds, you shouldin your gardenbecause they won't do much on your patio, far away from the action. If you can find wind chimes made of metal or another shiny, reflective material, they will be even more effective. There are also electronic ultrasound devices that are designed to scare away birds and are not even perceived by the human ear.
Plastic predators and toy snakes
Some gardeners swear by placing a plastic owl or hawk in their garden. For best effect, move the decoy around the garden so that it looks like a bird of prey in different places. If the bait moves or makes noise, that's even better. Another decoy you can use is plastic snakes. Place them in your garden beds and scare birds and animals.
Keep birds away: build a scarecrow
Scarecrows work if they are moved regularly. This is something you should keep in mind whether you buy one or build one yourself. Opt for a scarecrow that sits on a pole that can be pulled up and stuck into the ground in another part of the garden. It is also helpful to dress or decorate them with the colors red and yellow. Occasionally changing the scarecrow's outfit or accessories is also helpful.
Your pets can help
Your beloved pets can be the best weapon to stop birds from eating your garden's produce. A well-supervised dog will have the time of his life chasing birds away from your yard. If you have an outdoor cat, it will keep the birds away, but it could also cause problems of its own by turning the loosely tilled soil into a makeshift litter box and yourdigs up valuable plants, while she buries her treasures.
Keep birds away with chicken wire on the ground
Attach the wire mesh to the ground to protect newly planted seeds or newly sown tubers from damage by birds scratching and pecking at the ground. As the seedlings begin to grow, the wire can be raised out of the ground on stakes for additional protection.
Plant flowers that deter birds
You can deter certain birds from invading your landscape using protective plants. Pigeons, for example, which primarily eat plants from the cabbage family, do not like to cross densely planted areas. You can plant a dense border of annual flowers around the areas of your garden you want to protect, but when paired with netting or a visual deterrent, this is ultimately the best protection.
