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Sparrows pulling and picking polyanthas

j.overtonj.overton Posts: 8
in Plants
I am having problems with sparrows picking and pulling off all my polyanthas heads. Has anyone got any solutions as to what I could spray them with or treat them with to out off the sparrows but not anything which would harm the sparrows as we love them in the garden. 

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,175
    They love them ... little blighters ... back in the day folk used to use sticks and weave cotton thread among them to make a sort of 'no fly zone' but sometimes the sparrows and other small birds would get their legs entangled with tragic results.  Thankfully that technique has gone out of fashion.  

    My granny used to find that it was the yellow flowers they went for, and left the darker colours alone.  Are you finding that?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,533
    Last year the sparrows had a field day on the primrose flowers. Just pulled off and left on the ground. This year they have hardly had a go but then this year I have over the last 3 months collected enough flowers to do 4 demijons for wine and the flowers are still coming. So this year I don't mind them having a few. We have too many plants all over the garden to do what @Dovefromabove says and yes it is only the yellow ones they go for.
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,439
    edited April 2022
    Gotta love 'em, don't you.   :/

    Please don't do the thread and stick thing.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • j.overtonj.overton Posts: 8
    No I shan't do the thread thing as I love the birds.  With ours they pick all colours especially the dark reds so seems no particular theme. I may try sprayinbbthem with garlic water to see if that deters them it may give them smelly breath but that us all. Thanks everyone
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