I'm in Washington, DC, and have five raised garden beds (four 4x4 feet and one 4x8 feet) in my yard right next to a sidewalk. Last year, a nest of starlings in a nearby tree decimated nearly all my tomato plants. I built some structures using PVC and chicken wire to keep them out, but they were awkward, expensive, and not very aesthetically pleasing. Once my tomato plants grew taller, I had to take them down. This year, I want to be proactive and prevent the birds from ruining my plants again. What are some alternatives I can build or buy (without resorting to a greenhouse) that will protect my tomato plants as they grow? It would be a bonus if it also keeps squirrels away!
4 Answers
If you want to go the extra mile, you could also use decoy owls. They can help scare birds away from your plants if you move them around once in a while. Another tip is to paint rocks red before your tomatoes turn ripe; it tricks birds into thinking there's no food there. Wind spinners can also be effective because the shiny movements can scare them off.
I’ve found netting to be really useful, especially for fruit trees. It can give you that extra layer of protection against birds trying to get at your hard-earned produce!
Using red plastic Christmas ornaments can actually trick the birds. Before planting, cover your tomato structures with these ornaments. Birds will peck at them thinking they’re real tomatoes, but once they realize they're fake, they'll leave your actual tomatoes alone. Plus, it's good to plant different colored tomatoes since birds are typically attracted to red. Get those ornaments up before the plants grow so they have time to learn the game!
The Christmas ornaments idea is clever! Definitely going to try that.
I heard about this great idea where someone used magnetic screen doors as barriers around their plants. This way, it allows light and air in while keeping the birds out. Much easier than fussing with bulky structures!
This is such a neat trick! I can see how it could work.