Birds eating plants

Mammyjammy

For years I grown Livingstone daisies (mesembryanthemum) in my tubs and baskets and for some reason this year the sparrows have decided they have found the answer to their salad bar dreams and keep eating them. At this rate I’ll have none left this summer. Any clues how to deter them? I’ve been encouraging the birds to come into my garden and this is how they thank me !

wild edges

The sparrows have ripped my stachys byzantina apart for nesting material again this year. Physical barriers seem to be the only option. I've tried offering them alternative materials but they must be building some massive nests. Apparently some plants offer anti-microbial properties in nests though.

BobTheGardener

Luckily, the sparrows around here don't like carrot or parsnip seedlings, so they are untouched and are no problem sowing direct.  Lettuce and brassica seedlings have no chance though, those are sparrow ambrosia.  The good thing is the sparrows eat a hell of a lot of weed seedlings and seeds and also keep weeds down by dust-bathing in the soil between rows, so are actually acting as my automatic flying hoes!

I start almost everything off in gh and plant out when larger by which time a bit of pecking doesn't cause serious losses.   🐤🐤🐤

Mammyjammy

Thanks for your replies. I have experimented by placing plant labels/lolly sticks in a “cage” around the affected plants. Seems to have worked so far - obvs this solution might be a bit impractical in the veg patch !