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Hi y'all!!! I'm new here and about to begin a small vegetable and herb patch! BUT, I have a whole lot of birdy friends, due to a feeder I've had in my yard. I love watching the birds but I certainly don't want them to destroy my plants! Should I get rid of the feeder, or is there a way to keep the birds away from my veggie patch? I've heard stories about tying red ribbons around the plants or a tinfoil pie pan to a stake so it would make noise. Do they really work? Any other suggestions?
I have birdfeeders in my garden and have never had a problem with birds eating anything, but corn. That was my fault as I did not treat for earworms. The birds (Grackles and Bluejays) would open the ear to get the earworms and mess up the ears of corn. I stopped the earworms and no more bird damage. I do keep the birdbaths filled and there is one near every feeder.
Farmerdill, a quick question at the risk of straying off-topic slightly..? I have a big problem with earworms, to the extent that I have not bothered growing corn over the last few summers. What have you found is the best way to overcome the problem?
I use carbaryl, but a well timed application of agricultural oil will work. Some backyard gardeners use mineral oil applied with a medicine dropper. Too labor intensive for any number of plants. I try to apply just as the silks began to brown. The moth lays its eggs in the silk and the oil or a contact insecticide kills the eggs.
Strawberries and especially blueberries the only thing I have to fight birdsfor. I like cheap netting from the fabric store, because it doesn't get caught on the twigs the way the black bird netting does.
Veg and herbs have never had bird problems.
Thanks, y'all!!! Yes, when I lived further south, grackles would eat my fledgling citrus. Guess the birds have a sweet tooth! Fingers crossed for my veggies and herbs!
I tried putting out birdseed in feeders, hoping the birds would prefer that, over my strawberries. Then I found out my dog was eating all the bird seed - not great for the digestion and now I have sprouts of millet all over! So I can't really tell if worked or not.
