5 Ways to Keep Unwanted Birds Out of Your Garden, According to Experts

There are many benefits of inviting birds into your garden. Not only are they fun to watch, but some species feed on unwanted insects, pollinate wildflowers, and snack on weed seeds. But there are some downsides to allowing birds to soar freely in your yard. The avians sometimes eat vegetation, dig holes in soil while hunting for worms and grubs, and leave droppings on garden structures.

For these reasons, some gardeners prefer to keep birds away from their landscape—and if you're one of them, you may be on the hunt for a solution that works for you. To help, we consulted two gardening experts who shared their best tips for keeping birds out of your garden.

Use Butterfly Netting

Putting up a physical barrier, like butterfly netting, is one effective way to keep birds away from your garden. Make sure the netting is elevated rather than laying it directly onto your plants, which prevents birds from landing on top and pecking straight through. "Fasten the netting to stakes or curved structures, like PVC pipe, to create a tunnel of netting over your plants. Be sure all sides are covered," says Kristen Pullen, a woody ornamental expert for Star Roses and Plants.

When shopping for nets, look for something with holes less than 1 centimeter in diameter to avoid injuring the birds—and make sure the netting can be pulled taught. "It's also important to select a variety of netting that is UV resistant, so it doesn't break down from sun exposure. The UV-resistant varieties can then be stored and reused year to year," she says. As with any netting in your garden, monitor to ensure birds and other wildlife are not becoming entangled in it.

Place Reflective Items Around the Garden

Besides physical structures, there are visual deterrents that are also quite effective in keeping birds away. Pullen recommends using items that move in the wind to give the impression of a predator. You can stick pinwheels in garden soil, or hang CDs in your trees, says Adrienne Roethling, garden director of Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden. While it's not the most aesthetically-pleasing solution, the movement and reflective lighting will spook the birds.

Use Toy Predators

Beyond reflective items, there are other decoy predators you can use in your garden to deter birds from pestering your plants. Popular options include plastic owls, snakes, and even scarecrows. If you go this route, however, be sure not to underestimate the intelligence of your local avians; they will realize that these items aren't real if they're not moved often. Moving the predators around the yard tricks birds into thinking they are alive and can pop up where least expected, says Roethling.

Place Bird Feeders Away From Your Garden

While it may seem counterintuitive to hang feeders to deter birds, they can be effective when placed far enough away from the plants you want to protect. Roethling recommends looking for feeders that encourage birds that are less disruptive in the garden, like purple martins, bluebirds, and nuthatches.

Grown Plants That Deter Birds

Just as you can deter insects from devouring your garden by planting marigolds, you can use protective plants to keep certain birds from invading your landscape. For example, pigeons, which commonly eat plants in the cabbage family, do not like to cross through densely planted spaces. "You can plant a thick border of annual flowers around areas of your garden you'd like to protect, but coupling that with netting or a visual deterrent would ultimately provide the best protection," Pullen says.