Over the years, we have done everything possible to encourage small birds into our garden with suitable plants for cover and nesting and we have been rewarded with ever increasing numbers.

This year, for the first time we have had a problem with blackbirds digging up patio planters. They started doing it when the planters were fairly bare but have continued to do it now that they are fully planted, causing smaller plants to be uprooted. It is blackbirds - we have watched them doing it!

We have tried proprietary sprays that are supposed to discourage birds with no effect. We have tried some physical barriers (mesh/spikes) but they tend not to be too attractive in planters.

Any suggestions welcome. We do not want to clear birds from our garden, we just want to prevent them disturbing plants and causing mess (the earth gets scattered everywhere out of the planters). Anyone know anything that works and is available in the UK?

"ken1956" wrote in message
...

Over the years, we have done everything possible to encourage small
birds into our garden with suitable plants for cover and nesting and we
have been rewarded with ever increasing numbers.

This year, for the first time we have had a problem with blackbirds
digging up patio planters. They started doing it when the planters were
fairly bare but have continued to do it now that they are fully planted,
causing smaller plants to be uprooted. It is blackbirds - we have
watched them doing it!

We have tried proprietary sprays that are supposed to discourage birds
with no effect. We have tried some physical barriers (mesh/spikes) but
they tend not to be too attractive in planters.

Any suggestions welcome. We do not want to clear birds from our garden,
we just want to prevent them disturbing plants and causing mess (the
earth gets scattered everywhere out of the planters). Anyone know
anything that works and is available in the UK?

I would try fitting some chicken wire over the planters. It will only look
bad for a short time. Eventually the plants will cover it.

On Sun, 22 May 2005 10:31:08 +0000, ken1956
wrote:


Over the years, we have done everything possible to encourage small
birds into our garden with suitable plants for cover and nesting and we
have been rewarded with ever increasing numbers.

This year, for the first time we have had a problem with blackbirds
digging up patio planters. They started doing it when the planters were
fairly bare but have continued to do it now that they are fully planted,
causing smaller plants to be uprooted. It is blackbirds - we have
watched them doing it!

We have tried proprietary sprays that are supposed to discourage birds
with no effect. We have tried some physical barriers (mesh/spikes) but
they tend not to be too attractive in planters.

Any suggestions welcome. We do not want to clear birds from our garden,
we just want to prevent them disturbing plants and causing mess (the
earth gets scattered everywhere out of the planters). Anyone know
anything that works and is available in the UK?


Why does it always have to be the black birds?

Try planting some catnip in each planter .
When the cat's become annoying you can remove it.

Nylon netting or bird mesh, just for as long as it takes for the birdies to
find somewhere else to dig -- shouldn't take more than a week or so. Tho, I
am wondering what they're digging for????
Suzy O, Zone 5, Wisconsin

"ken1956" wrote in message
...

Over the years, we have done everything possible to encourage small
birds into our garden with suitable plants for cover and nesting and we
have been rewarded with ever increasing numbers.

This year, for the first time we have had a problem with blackbirds
digging up patio planters. They started doing it when the planters were
fairly bare but have continued to do it now that they are fully planted,
causing smaller plants to be uprooted. It is blackbirds - we have
watched them doing it!

We have tried proprietary sprays that are supposed to discourage birds
with no effect. We have tried some physical barriers (mesh/spikes) but
they tend not to be too attractive in planters.

Any suggestions welcome. We do not want to clear birds from our garden,
we just want to prevent them disturbing plants and causing mess (the
earth gets scattered everywhere out of the planters). Anyone know
anything that works and is available in the UK?


--
ken1956