Adorable as they are, birds can also be quite annoying, significantly so if you happen to be growing berries. We can get a bit cranky when the usually-lovable, feathered creatures launch a take-all assault on our beloved berry plants. How do you protect berry plants from birds – and save some fruit for yourself? Here are a few ideas
Physical bird repellents
Bird netting is effective in protecting berries from damage caused by birds as well as other animal pests. Simply drape it over your berry plants and fruit trees and you can relax. The netting available on our site is treated to hold up to rough weather and avoid entangling or trapping birds.
Audio and visual bird repellents
The good old-fashioned scarecrow is still kind of charming, and can be effective. Statues of predatory birds are another simple way of keeping birds off your berries. Don’t take those bird-brains for dumb- they’ll eventually figure out your ploy unless you move the scarecrow or faux predators around your garden on a regular bases.
Another way is to wrap your berry plants with strips of foil tape. The reflective surface of the tape, together with the noise they make in the wind will deter birds from venturing too close. CDs or pie plates tied on a string, hung close to your berry plants and grapevines are a similar, simple way of repelling birds.
Providing alternative food sources
Hunger is a potent motivator – and a nice berry bush or cherry tree will look like a feast to a hungry flock. Some gardeners swear by simple diversion to keep birds away from fruit plants Put up a bird bath and a bird feeder elsewhere on your property – the idea is that you’ll provide the birds with food and water so they leave your plants alone.
Birds can make great backyard friends – especially the ones that eat insect pests, providing cost effective and very effective insect pest control! They just happen to share our love for berries…and we can’t really blame them.