Gardeners have been urged to use this “simple deterrent” to keep birds away from their delicious fruits – including strawberries and tomatoes.
After spring breathed fresh life into gardens all over the UK, summer is approaching, and that means it is nearly time for fruit to come to fruition but it also means unwanted guests are more likely to pay a visit. Birds in particular are drawn to ripening produce and often have no quams with taking off with strawberries and tomatoes before they are ready to be harvested. This is frustrating for gardeners as the animals are destroying the fruits of their labour before they can get the chance to enjoy them. However, there is a clever hack that can be used to help deter the birds from the garden – and it’s eco-friendly.
Painting rocks with waterproof paint can act as decoys to scare the thieving birds off.
Richard King, garden expert at Dino Decking, shared this smart hack that was inspired by social media trends on TikTok and Reddit.
He explained: “By painting small rocks using waterproof paint, gardeners can create realistic-looking decoys that resemble ripe fruit such as strawberries, tomatoes and more.
“These colourful fakes lure birds in early, only for them to be met with a hard, unappetising surprise and over time, conditioning birds to associate those bright colours with disappointment and avoid the real thing altogether.”
The technique is not only effective but it’s also creative and family-friendly too.
He added: “It’s a brilliantly simple deterrent that’s eco-friendly, safe for wildlife and surprisingly effective. Plus, it’s a great way to involve children in the garden.”
It’s a great activity that can be used to engage children and educate them about the growing process and nature.
All you need to do is keep an eye out for flat rounded stones that will be ideal for mimicking the fruit you want to paint on to it.
Make sure to use outdoor-safe acrylic paint in bright colours that birds will easily notice, for example red for strawberries, yellow for apricots, or purple for plums.
You can add fine details like seeds or stems to make the stones all the more convincing too.
Then once dry, add a clear top coat to ensure the stone stays waterproof.
To have success with this, you must place the decoys early in the season, before any fruits have begun to sprout.
The timing will mean that birds will tend to avoid your garden before the crops begin developing.
It’s a perfect activity to do at the weekend and it combines gardening knowledge with artistic expression all while protecting your precious harvest from bird invaders.