Birds are constantly looking for places to nest or rest, and if you’re wondering how to keep birds out of hanging plants, you’re definitely not alone. Whether you have natural or artificial plants, birds will inevitably hang around. Sure, the sound of nature is definitely worth it in your garden, but at the same time, birds can also ruin your artificial plants, hence the necessity of some protection to preserve your investment.
Learning how to keep birds out of hanging plants goes in two directions. First, you want your plants to be safe from birds and their messy droppings. Second, you don’t want to ruin the look with ugly meshes over your plants. Luckily, there are a few middle options. Here’s everything you need to know.
Physical Deterrents to Keep Birds Out of Hanging Plants
Normally, this option is better when you have real plants. They need soil to thrive, so you can hide certain elements in the soil. If you think about it, birds need a safe place to land and build their nests. You can also disrupt these zones without damaging the appearance.
Plastic forks could go into the soil with the handle down, so the tines poke up creating an uncomfortable barrier that deters landing. It doesn’t work well with faux hanging plants, unless you cover the top of the pots with some soil or gravel.
On the same note, wooden skewers may also work. Sharp tines can injure a bird that lands on them, so wire mesh is the safer choice if you want to avoid hurting birds.
Wire mesh is a more common option. You can cut a circle of wire mesh or even hardware cloth and lay it over the area where the soil should be. The foliage of your plants can hide the mesh, so it won’t look too bad to anyone looking up at the basket. However, birds won’t be able to dig the area to place their nests securely.
Visual Scare Tactics
Visual scare tactics don’t always revolve around your hanging plants. They can also be placed in the garden. Depending on the theme or style of your garden, they could actually become some useful decorative elements as well.
For example, reflective bird tape is pretty popular. Cut a few strips and tie them to the chains or hangers of your fake plants. You can also use aluminum foil. After all, birds are easily scared by bright reflections and sudden flashes of movement, so these things could keep them away without ruining your garden aesthetic.
Fake predators are also handy. You can get a realistic rubber snake hanging from the foliage of your plants. If you’re into this type of décor, it will also keep birds away, since they won’t settle in areas that could be seen as predator territories where their eggs would be at risk. Birds get used to decoys, so move the snake every few days.
If you have a feng-shui garden with many dangling things and reflective elements, you can also hang some old CDs. A small shiny pinwheel close to your plants will also work well. Such things reflect light and chase away birds that may consider your garden for nests.
Use Scent Repellents
Apart from visual repellents, some birds also hate a few scents. Fortunately, these scents aren’t too bad for people. Unless you’re allergic to something, you could do with them around your garden.
Take peppermint oil, for example. Get a few cotton balls, soak them in peppermint oil and hide them in the pots beneath the faux leaves. You won’t see them, but the scents may keep birds away.
Apart from peppermint oil, you can also get a mix of equal parts of water and lemon juice, then add a few drops of peppermint oil to spray directly onto the container.
Skip mothballs. They are a regulated pesticide, and using them in planters or outdoors goes against the product label. They are also toxic to children, pets and wildlife.
Keep essential oils away from pets, since they can irritate or harm cats and dogs. Scents fade fast, so refresh them every few days, and expect mixed results.
How to Keep Birds Out of Hanging Baskets, Ferns and Potted Plants
Hanging baskets: Lay wire mesh or hardware cloth over the soil and let the foliage hide it. Tie reflective tape to the chains.
Hanging ferns: Dense fronds and coco liners make a cozy nest spot. Switch to a tight-weave liner, and move the fern out of sheltered corners near walls and eaves if you can.
Potted plants: Cover the soil with wire mesh or smooth stones, and keep a reflective strip nearby. If a bird keeps returning, move the pot.
Change the Liners to Keep Birds Away From Hanging Plants
When learning how to keep birds out of hanging plants, you’ll have to figure out why birds come to your plants in the first place.
Most of the above-mentioned options work well if birds are looking for a place to rest or nest. However, some gardeners have a different problem. Some birds come over to rip pieces out of their nests, so they use these pieces as nesting materials somewhere else.
In this particular case, you’ll need to change the liners. Tight-weave hanging baskets work well, whether the plants are natural or artificial because they prevent birds from pulling loose fibers free.
What to Do If Birds Have Already Nested
If a bird has already built a nest or laid eggs in your basket, leave it alone until the chicks have left. In many places, including the US, it’s illegal to disturb the active nest of most wild birds, so check your local rules. Once the nest is empty, remove it, clean the basket, and use the deterrents above to stop birds from coming back.
Provide Options
Finally, if you like birds, but you don’t want them over your fake plants, just offer some better options. Get a dedicated space for birds in your garden where they are actually welcome to congregate. Hang a few birdhouses away from your planters, so they’ll obviously be drawn to better locations that offer proper shelter without disrupting your decor.
In the end, figuring out how to keep birds out of hanging plants isn’t that hard, yet what works for some people won’t work for everyone else. You may have to try a mix of different ideas until you find out what works for your garden and keeps your plants in better condition all year long. Setting up a new basket? See our guide on how to hang plants from the ceiling without damage.