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Blackbirds
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14-10-2003, 09:12 PM
Steve Harris
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Blackbirds
In article ,
(Lucy) wrote:
I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen
dead leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up
to a point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent
paving as they search for insects.
Wretched, isn't it! There are a few things you can do:
1. Plan so that there is a distance of at least 3' between the stem of
the plant you want to mulch and the path you *don't* want to mulch.
Mulch the plant to a radius of 2'. This will:
a) Greatly reduce the debris reaching the path
b) Keep the plant reasonably well mulched as the birds redistribute the
bark.
2. Use a pale coloured mulch such as year old bark or gravel. The birds
seem to go for dark brown.
3. Erect a barrier between the bark and the path. A gravel board
80-100mm seems to work. Two reasons:
a) The birds tend to throw away from barriers
b) It seems to stop a lot of what they do throw going further.
Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
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