I’m a pest pro – how to banish pigeons from your garden this winter, including the 24p buy from Sainsbury’s they hate
IF you don’t want pigeons to enter your garden uninvited, then fear not, we’ve got just the thing for you.
Pigeons can be a real nuisance, but particularly in autumn as they will eat away at your plants to forage for food in an attempt to build up their fat reserves for the upcoming cold weather.
Not only this, but it’s important to keep pigeons out of the garden as not only do they damage plants, but their droppings can carry diseases which can contaminate soil.
But getting rid of pigeons once they have settled on your property is tricky as wild birds are protected in Britain and you cannot disturb their nests.
However, it is easy to prevent them from being attracted to your garden in the first place.
Zack DeAngelis, an expert from Pest Pointers, has shared his top tips for keeping pigeons away for good.
According to Zack, the simple solution to deter pigeons is to naturally repel them, as he said: “Birds do a lot more good than we even realise, but birds become a problem when they overtake your space and start to cause a mess.
“We’re talking about the plants that birds hate, and how to use them to take back ownership of your outdoors!”
Powerful plants
When it comes to plants that can be used to deter pigeons, it turns out that there is a good chance they will keep away from any white flowers, as birds often use the white plumage on their feathers to show each other danger is nearby.
Having white flowers in the garden also makes it more difficult for pigeons to hide so any predators nearby will easily be able to spot them.
Zack explained: “White flowering plants, of any kind, are generally said to alarm a bird, as the colour white can be dangerous to them.
“Why? If birds are up against a stark, white-coloured flower, it’s way harder for them to hide within the plant and thus, can be seen by predators.
“Birds typically are darker in colour or have bright-coloured bodies, both of which will stick out like a sore thumb when compared to the bright, white flowers.”
Get pungent
Not only this, but according to the pest pro, pigeons have a sense of smell and will stay away from pungent plants as the scent irritates them.
Scents such as garlic and onions also mask the scent of more attractive plants they would rather eat in the garden.
Zack advised: “Birds hate garlic because it can overwhelm their senses, but more importantly, it just doesn’t smell as delicious to them as it does to us!
“With this in mind, you can easily use garlic to deter birds in a few easy ways.”
If you haven’t got any spare garlic in your cupboard, you can nab it for as little as 24p from Sainsbury’s.
He also added: “If you have a vegetable garden, or vegetables that keep getting eaten by a bird, adding a Sweet Vidalia Onion Plant or green onions into your outdoor space will not only give you a great food source but will keep birds far, far away.”
Common garden pests
Common pests in the garden don’t need to be a cause for alarm. If you can identify them, you can work on getting rid of them and preventing them from returning.
Aphids (Greenfly, Blackfly)
Aphids are extremely common and can impact plant growth. They have tiny soft pear-shaped bodies, and are usually green or black. You may spot them clustered on the stem of soft shoots – look under leaves in particular – or may find a sticky substance on your plants that gives away aphids have been there sucking at the sap.
Whitefly
These small white-winged insects are related to aphids, at just 1 or 2 mm in length, and look very much like white moths as adults. They can be found on the underside of leaves, preferring younger, fresher leaves. They fly in clusters when you disturb them. Their lifecycle is only three weeks long, which means an infestation can occur very rapidly.
Slugs
An unmissable, squashy-looking body plus small sensory tentacles on its head. Slugs move along on one muscular foot. They range in scale from surprisingly small to terrifyingly large; limax cinereoniger species can grow comfortably beyond 20 cm in length.
Cabbage Moth Caterpillar
Cabbage moth caterpillars happily make their way into the heart of the vegetables, The caterpillars are distinguished in shades of yellow or browny green with no hair.
Mealy Bug
Mealybugs are tiny oval-shaped insects that have a white, powdery wax coating. There are several different species, many of which have what looks like legs coming from their sides and back end. In their earliest stage of life, it’s entirely possible to mistake them for fungus and not recognise them as insects at all.
However, if having a vegetable garden is too much effort, you can also use stong-smelling herbs such as mint, lavender or thyme, as they contain oils that pigeons will hate the taste or smell of.
Zack continued: “These fragrant plants can irritate a bird’s senses at stronger concentrations but they primarily mask scents that otherwise would attract birds.”
Spike on
It may seem obvious to some, but pigeons will not stay in an area with plants they cannot peck at and having thorny plants growing in a garden can deter birds from trying to eat anything else growing in a garden.
One great thorny plant to have in your garden to deter pigeons is blackberry spikes but you can also simply buy bird spikes to put on your fence if you prefer.
Zack recognised: “Another plant that can keep birds away is the blackberry spike, and it’s not so much that they hate the berry or taste, it’s that the plant itself is spiky and is dangerous to a bird.
“Birds are not going to stay around where they feel unsafe or annoyed. With that in mind, planting blackberry spikes may be a good way to give birds a warning.”
That’s toxic
And finally, plants such as daffodils, which contain a poisonous chemical compound that birds know not to eat, are also a good way to deter pigeons.
Zack concluded: “According to Colorado State University, daffodil stems, leaves, and bulbs contain a chemical called lycorine. This can be dangerous for a bird, and get this—birds instinctually already know this!
“With a bird’s awareness, planting daffodils will not only look beautiful in your backyard, but will keep birds and other pests away, as the sight of them merely means danger.”
Daffodils are often planted between September and November as the temperature cools enough to help them grow strong roots before the frosty winter weather arrives.
If pigeons continue to be an annoyance for you, then now is the time to begin growing daffodils as not only will you have a beautiful display next year but you’ll also have a natural deterrent that will hopefully keep these pesky birds away for good too.
Tips for keeping pests from your garden
- Plant companion plants such as peppermint to repel rats.
- Place Garden Netting Pest Barrier, over your flowerbeds.
- Fill open-top containers with beer and place in soil to repel slugs.
- Spray plants with Neem Oil, to repel ants, flies, and spiders.
- Dust your flowerbeds with Diatomaceous Earth.
- Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap, 10 drops peppermint oil, and 4 cups water and spray on flowerbeds.
- Place eggshells around your plants to protect from slugs and snails.