Original Down East

The most destructive pests in gardens are the larger ones - birds, deer, rabbits, moles, mice and so on. There is no doubt that the most effective control for this type of pest is to prevent them reaching the crops by physical means.

BIRDS

There is no really effective bird deterrent available. Scarecrows are reasonably effective for a day or two but, after a short while, the birds get used to them and take no notice. This is even so with the more elaborate electric scarecrows that have waving arms, flashing lights and screaming sirens or blazing shot-guns. If moved around constantly, they have some effect but, in the end, they are more likely to frighten your neighbors than the birds! If a scarecrow is combined with regular shooting it will be more effective, but you will also disturb the natural balance and that is biting the hand that feeds you.

THE PRODUCTIVE GARDEN

The only really effective control for birds is netting and that is not nearly as expensive as it may seem. Plastic netting is relatively cheap and will last a very long time if it is used carefully.

The ideal is to build yourself a fruit cage to cover the entire productive garden. Support the netting on strong posts and wires and secure it at the edges with short wire staples.

If you do not wish to go to that kind of extreme, cover only the rows of vulnerable crops. You can place a row of small wire hoops along the beds of low plants and drape nets over the top. Alternatively, with crops such as strawberries or rows of fruit bushes, you can simply drape the netting over the row. If there is a danger of plants growing through the netting, as with peas for example, it is better to support the net on stakes so that it is higher than the plants. Otherwise you will damage the plant when you remove the netting.

Unlike most of the insect pests, birds generally cause most damage during the winter, when there is little else around for them to eat. They will attack the fattening buds of fruit - particularly blackcurrants. The cabbage (Cruciferae) family are also greatly at risk, especially when it snows, because they are often the only edible plants visible, so will attract all the birds in the area. The answer is to drive in a few short posts along the row, put a jam-jar on the top of each post and drape the netting over the top. This can be a nuisance when you want to cut a cabbage from the middle of the row, but at least you will have some left to harvest! Ensure that the netting is firmly fixed at ground level or birds may still get under the netting and could be injured trying to get out.