Gardeners are being urged to hang CDs in their gardens this October – and it’s all to do with protecting fruit and veg crops from predators like birds from ruining them
The little known hack to scare away birds from your garden(Image: ChrisAt via Getty Images)
Garden enthusiasts are being encouraged to repurpose their old CDs this October.
Remember CDs? Those shiny discs filled with music that were all the rage before Spotify took over. Now, gardeners are dusting off their old collections and giving them a new purpose in the garden.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be a CD – an old DVD will do just fine. Any shiny disc will serve the purpose. The reason for this unusual garden decor is to safeguard fruit and veg crops from pesky birds.
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In October, the last of the crops are maturing and bearing fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, as well as apple, pear and plum trees.
If you’ve been painstakingly nurturing your garden for months, the last thing you want is a pigeon or blackbird swooping in and stealing your hard-earned produce at the eleventh hour.
Despite their reputation, birds are actually terrified of CDs, and won’t dare to snatch your blackberries or peck at your onion bulbs if you line CDs along your raised beds.
It’s a common belief that birds are drawn to shiny objects; magpies, in particular, are known to actively seek them out, reports the Express.
However, they steer clear of areas adorned with CDs as the reflected light startles them. A gust of wind catches the CDs, causing them to reflect light in random directions, effectively scaring away the birds.
Gardening page Food For Trees & Africa said: “Did you know that by hanging old CDs around your food garden, you’ll startle birds with the reflecting light and keep them away from your vegetables and herbs. It’s a trick we’ve put into action at the Food & Trees for Africa food garden.
“Start by hanging the discs loosely so that the slightest breeze makes them spin and catch the sun’s rays. Every now and then, change their location around your beds to prevent the birds from getting accustomed to them.”
The discs will immediately trigger birds’ escape instinct, sending them fleeing from the area. Simply ensure you relocate the CDs periodically to prevent feathered visitors from becoming familiar with their positioning.
This means you can cultivate strawberries, tomatoes and other produce without worrying about aerial raiders, whilst encouraging birds towards safer spots like grass areas where they can hunt for slugs and worms instead.
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