Things You'll Need:
- Stakes
- Fine netting
- Old CDs
- Old VHS tape
- Wooden cats and/or owls
- Red Christmas lights
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Step 1
Most garden supply stores sell lightweight bird netting that can be draped over plants. You will need to make sure to get fine netting so that the openings in the netting are not big enough for birds to poke their beaks through. This can be draped over plants or you can use stakes to create a tent. Stakes are especially helpful for newly planted gardens. You will need to make sure the netting reaches the ground so that birds cannot go under the netting and up the tomato plant.
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Step 2
Birds are scared of shiny objects, so you can hang CDs in several spots in your garden. You will need to periodically move these around to make sure birds to don't get used to them being there.
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Step 3
Take the tape out of an old VHS tape and string it around your garden on stakes. This is especially helpful in windy areas where the flapping will keep the birds away. Pinwheels can be used in the same way, although you will need to take note of which way the wind is from in order to maximize their spin.
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Step 4
One slightly less effective suggestion is to use wooden animals like cats and owls. These will need to be moved throughout your garden on a regular basis as birds will start to figure out they are not real.
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Step 5
String red Christmas light bulbs in your garden. Birds will think they are ripened tomatoes and will try to peck them. Once they realize they aren't getting anything out of them, they will stop trying to get food from your garden.
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Step 6
Pick the tomatoes just as they are starting to turn red and let them ripen on a sunny window sill.
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Step 7
In dry areas, birds feeding on your plants may be the result of not having enough water. Setup containers of water or a birdbath to make sure they have an adequate source of water and do not try to suck the water out of your plants.
