To stop pigeons flying into your garden, experts have recommended the number one colour to paint your fence.
Pigeons will never enter your garden when you paint your fence 1 specific colour(Image: DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams) via Getty Images)
Most people give little thought to their garden fence. It’s simply there to mark the boundaries of their outdoor space or perhaps enhance the overall look of their garden.
However, it turns out that painting your fence white can do far more than simply smarten up your garden — it can also keep one of the most troublesome pests at bay.
With flocks of pigeons descending on gardens, pinching seeds and splattering furniture, many gardeners consider these birds a considerable nuisance.
Rather than resorting to spikes or heavy-duty repellents, avian expert and founder of Birdzy, Isabelle Manseau, suggests that gardeners use colour to their advantage.
Pigeons see the colour white as danger(Image: Epiximages via Getty Images)
She told Home and Gardens: “Pigeons are deterred by certain colours they perceive as threatening or unsettling, such as reflective or metallic shades and intense hues.”
Gardening experts at Sefton Meadows Garden Centre are equally convinced that the colour white acts as a natural pigeon deterrent, reports the Mirror.
They said: “White is a ‘danger’ colour to birds, much in the same way that red is a warning colour to humans.”
By introducing more white into your garden, the space will become increasingly unappealing to gathering pigeons.
Isabelle said: “Painting garden furniture or fence posts in shades of white can help deter pigeons while still keeping the aesthetic cohesive.
“A pop of colour can really liven up the yard too, especially if you’re putting in outdoor furniture for a small space.” Alternatively, if your existing furniture is looking rather tired and beyond salvaging, you might want to think about purchasing new, white furniture.
Painters of fences at Paint With Pinnacle also suggest choosing the colour white to discourage pigeons. They said: “One shade that most pigeons avoid is white. A bright or dull white signals danger and alarm to birds and causes them to avoid these spaces.”
It’s advisable to paint your fence before spring draws to a close, as pigeons become more active during the summer months.
Alongside painting fences white, Sefton Meadows Garden Centre also advises introducing white flowers to gardens.
They said: “Many birds use the white plumage in their feathers to show each other that there is danger ahead, so planting a variety of white flowers around areas you want to keep protected might be enough to deter birds from landing.”
There are numerous ways to incorporate white flowers, such as blending them into planters, hanging baskets, or simply positioning potted plants throughout your garden.
Comments are closed.