This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Preventing birds eating strawberries
greaseladder
Posts: 2
in Fruit & veg
I have new strawberry plants (and am new to growing fruit) which have flowered and green fruits are appearing. What do you suggest I use to prevent birds eating the strawberries when they ripen? I have only 6 plants growing in one strawberry pot and a limited budget.
0
Posts
Hi. A frame with netting over it should do the job
Try to keep the netting away from the fruit as Blackbirds will eat them through the mesh if they can reach them.
We used to grow strawberries commercially, not in a big way but PYO. My mother-in-law used to make a cardboard hovering Kestrel, with wings spread which she put on a long stick over the strawberries. She swore it worked......but slugs; they were the real problem.
Please think too that birds can become ensnared in netting, with disastrous (for them) consequences.
A good rigid cage of something like chicken wire is probably better than netting for the reason David gives. It doesn't have to be fancy - a few canes and wire or tie securely on to those.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
And wire netting will also work against grey squirrels (if you have them) who simply chew through standard bird netting.
Thank you all very much. Lots of tips and, as I do not want to cause harm to any wildlife, I will probable try chicken wire.