I'm a gardening expert – the free, easy way to keep pesky birds off your plants this summer

The Sun

26-05-2025

WITH spring in full swing, gardens will be enjoying a burst of new life - but there can be a few unwelcome visitors.
Unfortunately for green-fingered Brits, birds are drawn to ripening plants looking for a tasty snack, often stealing crops before they have the chance to be picked.
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To help, Richard King, garden expert at Dino Decking, has revealed a fun and family-friendly hack, which is gaining popularity on TikTok and Reddit.
This trick is to use painted rocks as decoy fruit to keep birds at bay.
The gardening professional explained: 'By painting small rocks using waterproof paint, gardeners can create realistic-looking decoys that resemble ripe fruit such as strawberries, tomatoes and more.
'These colourful fakes lure birds in early, only for them to be met with a hard, unappetising surprise and over time, conditioning birds to associate those bright colours with disappointment and avoid the real thing altogether.
'It's a brilliantly simple deterrent that's eco-friendly, safe for wildlife, and surprisingly effective.
'Plus, it's a great way to involve children in the garden. They get to be creative, learn about nature, and feel like part of the growing process.'
Richard shared five easy steps to creating the bird deterrents in your garden…
1. Choose the right stones
Start by collecting smooth, rounded stones that closely resemble the size and shape of the fruit you want to imitate, such as strawberries, tomatoes, or apricots.
2. Paint and add realistic fruit details
Use outdoor-safe acrylic paint in bright colours so they are easy for birds to spot, think red for strawberries, yellow for apricots, or deep purple for plums.
Be sure to apply an even coat and decorate them with fine details like seeds, stems, or shading using smaller brushes or paint pens to make your painted rocks more convincing.
Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Garden Pest-Free
4. Seal for durability
Once the paint has dried completely, protect your work by sealing the stones with a clear, waterproof sealant.
A shellac glaze is particularly effective for long-lasting, weather-resistant results.
5. Place them in your garden
Set the painted stones among your plants early in the growing season, ideally before any fruit begins to ripen, to train birds to avoid the area.
For example, placing strawberry rocks in your garden about three weeks before your real strawberries begin to turn red can help deter birds just in time to save your crop.
IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know.
Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay.
Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent.
Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents.
Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.