No dig and blackbirds
LeifUK
Posts: 573
This year I am trying no dig growing, and spread lots of compost on the beds. Because the soil got a bit high, I built some shallow deep bed frames. Anyway, what I am finding is that the compost needs more frequent watering, but worse, it is a blackbird magnet. The dear things come along and excavate, pulling up my seedlings. Even though it was netted they got under. So now there are screws along the sides, to allow the netting to be securely fixed. Fortunately I only lost a few seedlings, having caught him in time.
But, when I grew in clay soil, blackbirds were not a pest. So with no dig I will have to net all beds with seedlings. They are excavating my yet to be planted courgette and squash beds, which is not yet an issue.
Do other people have this problem? Do you just net?
I am tempted to dig in the compost next year. That way worms will be near the surface, and the surface soil will not be so light.
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Bit of a magnet for Robbins and blackbirds
The problem is that the soil is so light that they can snuffle, digging down two inches or so, and throw it eveywhere. One bird had removed the compost round the sides of the bed!
Fleece would be your best bet while seedlings are small. It will offer protection from extremes of temperature and sunscorch (if we're that lucky!) too. You could prop it up over a light framework of bamboo canes tied at the corners, but peg or weight it down.
Thanks all, sounds like it is a particular problem for me. Maybe the fact that I renovated the lawn, greatly increasing the worm count, brought in the blackbirds in the first place. I might try fleece.
Pansyface: leaving them to it is not an option. I too enjoy watching blackbirds feeding, but I can't have them uprooting and destroying carrots, parsnips and leeks. Thanks to me they have a nice privet hedge to rootle under, a nice worm rich lawn to hop over, and some ??ice fruit trees to perch in. I even allow them to snaffle summer raspberries.
This gardening lark really is a fight against a long line of animals queueing up to eat, uproot or defecate on our produce!
Actually my garden is becoming more bird friendly. As well as the bird friendly features mentioned, there is a large wood pile for insects, and a 10m long herb bed for insects ( and my dinner). But they're not getting my veg and fruit.
I'm a big digger / tiller of my soil - I like it aerated but each to their own (although my poor old back would disagree)
I love my blackbirds and robin - they hop around within about 10 feet of me when I'm digging - they don't want to miss tasty treats although I don't really want them pinching my worms!
I guess this won't help you much but I love this story - my old man was digging years ago (his parents' garden) and had done a bit each day. He told me that eventually a blackbird started following him and would hop in and out, between the spade. One day it was there with a beak full of worms (presumably for its young) when he unearthed a huge beetle. Quick as a flash, blackie dropped the worms and gulped said beetle in one before gathering the worms up and flying off. Suspect it was like filet mignon to it ...
Next time try mulching directly after spreading. Just leave a space for where you plan to put your seeds. Newspaper wetted down and then topped with grass clippings might dissuade them.
Or alternatively, put the compost down about two weeks prior to planting.. so the blackbirds have turned it all over and got the 'good' stuff out.. and then hopefully will leave it alone for your seedlings to get on. Perhaps put some temporary twiggy branches along the seed rows too?
Unfortunately most compost was spread in winter. Half was home made. It is possible it was too fibrous and light. Mind you they also dig through areas of new horizon compost, spread months ago. I am taking the netting/fleece approach. I have some spare fruit and beg cage frames lying around.
And to please Pansyface, today I made two insect homes, from some old logs and planks I had, and they will be hung on a fence post.