I really like watching the hummingbirds flitting concerning the scarlet bee balm within the yard. In terms of preserving the cabbage worms in examine, it’s arduous to beat the native bluebird inhabitants. All in all, I benefit from the birds that go to our yard, and I’m going out of my method to entice them.
However when my blueberries begin to ripen, these heat, fuzzy emotions towards the birds develop chilly.
They will have the seed I put out and all of the bugs which can be making an attempt to destroy my vegetable backyard, however they could not have my blueberries. It’s infuriating seeing the crop I labored so arduous to develop eaten and picked aside. And when you’re studying this, then I’m positive you realize what I imply.
Fortunately, there are fairly a number of straightforward and cheap strategies of preserving birds and blueberries aside. Let’s leap in!
When Do You Must Begin Defending Blueberries
You solely want to make use of some type of deterrent whereas the blueberries are ripe. Like us, birds pay little consideration to inexperienced berries and are solely as soon as blueberries are ripe. As soon as the inexperienced berries start to get that first blush of blue, it’s time to guard them. Maintain them protected till you’ve completed harvesting your whole berries for the season.
Naturally, this additionally is determined by the way you’re defending your berries.
If you happen to’re utilizing some type of shelter with netting, you may select to maintain it in place all 12 months. Simply be certain no matter you utilize doesn’t stop pollinators from reaching the flowers within the spring and that you would be able to simply entry the bushes for pruning.
Methods to Defend Blueberries from Birds & Animals
Hen Netting
Hen netting appears to be the go-to for a lot of of us, and it’s extraordinarily efficient at preserving birds and different animals away.
Nonetheless, it’s a down-right ache to work with when you’re not utilizing some type of body to connect it to. If you happen to’re merely draping it over your blueberry bushes, you’re going to have a tough go together with it.
As my companion complained whereas coping with it:
- It sags
- It catches on all the pieces, together with the blueberry bushes
- Each time you go to regulate it, it pops blueberries off the bushes.
To not point out, when you’re utilizing it unfastened, it’s straightforward for a fowl to turn out to be entangled within the netting. Whereas we don’t need them to eat our blueberries, we aren’t out to hurt them both.
If you happen to’re going to make use of fowl netting successfully, it ought to be stretched taut and stapled to a body that both homes every blueberry bush, or that’s constructed to shelter all of them. Right here’s a tutorial on easy methods to construct a fowl netting body for blueberries utilizing PVC pipes and zip ties.
For the subsequent few options, may I recommend you hit up your native Greenback Retailer? These fowl deterrents are all fast, straightforward and really low-cost to make use of.
Grape Kool-Assist
Sure, you learn that proper; the purple sugary drink all of us used to imbibe as youngsters is an efficient and low-cost means of preserving birds away out of your blueberries. However it’s important to use the grape selection for it to work. Grape Kool-Assist comprises methyl anthranilate. (It’s an ester of anthranilic acid and has a notable grape style and scent, making it the right flavoring agent for grape drinks and candies.)
Whereas many a small baby loves the flavour of methyl anthranilate, birds hate it.
Combine 4 packets of grape Kool-Assist right into a gallon of water and pour right into a sprayer. Spray your blueberries liberally. You’ll must reapply it every time it rains, however for about $1.50, you may make an inexpensive, straightforward and efficient fowl deterrent. It’s also possible to use this to maintain birds from consuming cherries and grapes.
Pinwheels
It appears the greenback retailer at all times has these enjoyable childhood favorites in inventory. Search for the shiny ones, because the flashing and motion are what scares birds away. Poke them within the floor round your blueberry bushes as your berries start to ripen. Place a number of within the bushes themselves.
For these to work properly, it helps to maneuver them each few days to stop the birds from getting accustomed to them. Additionally, you solely wish to use them whenever you’re harvesting blueberries. Set them out when the berries begin ripening, after which carry them in as soon as your blueberry harvest is completed. Once more, this retains the birds from getting used to them.
Snakes
Sure, snakes! The toy, rubber variety that’s.
(Though, the actual factor will do the trick as properly.) Seize a number of snakes and place them round your blueberry bushes the place they’re seen. Go for toy snakes which can be extra life like in colour.
Very similar to the pinwheels, the snakes are simplest when you transfer them each few days to maintain the birds on their toes.
(It’s additionally well mannered to warn household and associates concerning the rubber snakes mendacity concerning the yard except, after all, your loved ones’s humorousness leans extra towards the sensible joking aspect. Then, by all means, benefit from the shouts of unsuspecting blueberry pickers.)
The Greenback Retailer Three
Whereas every of those does a superb job by itself, you’ll get one of the best outcomes whenever you deploy all three fowl deterrents without delay: the grape Kool-Assist, pinwheels and snakes.
Blueberry Baggage
These mesh blueberry luggage are nice! You’ll want one for every bush. Merely slip them over your blueberry bushes and cinch them closed on the backside. Some include zippers that enable you quick access to your berries with out eradicating the entire bag.
It’s greatest to not go away these on all 12 months, as they aren’t meant for continued use in every kind of climate. Nonetheless, for the few weeks every summer time when blueberries are in season, they do a wonderful job of defending blueberries from birds and different animals.
Sadly, the issue with all of those choices is they’re fully ineffective towards people. Sure, if in case you have babies or a partner who’s a blueberry fiend, there actually isn’t a lot you are able to do. Besides possibly plant extra blueberry bushes.
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Together with Sunday ramblings from our editor, Tracey, in addition to “What’s Up Wednesday” our roundup of what’s in season and new article updates and alerts.
