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Magpies

TheScottishGardenerTheScottishGardener Posts: 62
in Problem solving
I've a pair of magpies teasing out my coco liner from a couple of hanging baskets I have in my garden. When I say teasing, that makes it sound gentle, they're ripping it out and they're making such a mess of the baskets :( I have tried moving them to several different locations but whenever I approach the baskets I always catch them in the act. The baskets are now at a point where I'm probably going to have to replace them but hesitant to do that until I find an actual solution that will ensure they leave them alone in the future.

Any tips or advice? I don't mind them foraging bits and pieces for their nests etc., but they just keep coming back for more and more.
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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    They'll probably stop after the nesting season. You might as well wait for a bit before you put them out again
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    maybe it's a judgement on hanging baskets ;)
    Devon.
  • TheScottishGardenerTheScottishGardener Posts: 62
    B3 said:
    They'll probably stop after the nesting season. You might as well wait for a bit before you put them out again
    I know they'll stop eventually, but you know, if I'm gonna have the same issue next year, then what's the point? :)

    Is there a solution?
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I line my baskets with old compost bags.
    I make holes in the bags and plant trailing lobelia in the holes so the liner disappears completely.
    The baskets also don't dry out so quickly either

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    Maybe leave a pile of coco liner on the ground next to the baskets?
    Sunny Dundee
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I wired some old coir matting to a fence ... the blackbirds and magpies helped themselves ... great fun to watch.  

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





  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    2 for joy.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • TheScottishGardenerTheScottishGardener Posts: 62
    @Pete.8 and @Dovefromabove these are both great ideas. Do you have pictures to show? Just to give a better idea!

    Thanks everyone :)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    No photos and in a previous garden ... it was just an offcut of coir matting on the top rail of a fence with a strand of wire wrapped around it. Tying ing it on with string would’ve worked just as well. 
    😊 


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





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I don't I'm afraid.
    I have masses of photos of plants in my back garden, but the baskets hung on the front of the house and I never thought to take a pic.
    I put a big bit of old compost bag in the basket with the writing on the inside.
    Fill it up with compost then plant in the top area, give it a water, trim off the excess liner and hang it up.
    I'd then make a small slit in the liner with a pair of scissors abut 2" from the top and poke in a trailing lobelia. I usually found about 5 lobelia around the front and sides would be enough.
    In a few weeks the liner is covered.
    Don't forget to jab a few holes around the bottom too for drainage.
    I never poke a hole right at the bottom though - it helps keep a little more moisture in the compost

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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