Placing mirrors in your garden can be more useful than just decorating the space – they can create an illusion that pigeons simply don’t like
Gardeners have been given a handy trick to deter pigeons from their outdoor spaces and stopping them from attacking bird feeders and plants.
Spring has welcomed us all with sunny days and clear skies. With the warmer weather ahead and the longer days until autumn, gardeners are looking for the best ways to make the most of their outdoor spaces without the visit of unwanted pests. Pigeons are known to be present in every season of the year, but during the warmer months, they are seen more often. Some people don’t like them in their gardens, and wonder if there are any methods to get rid of them. But don’t worry, there are ways to stop attracting them and nesting on your roof!
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How to stop pigeons from coming to the garden?
A common thing to do to right from the start to stop pigeons from coming into your garden is to reduce access to food. However, if gardeners have bird feeds, it can be hard to stop pigeons taking advantage. As reported by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), some ways to keep pigeons out of the garden includes securing bins so the birds can’t access them, moving the bird feeds away from perches and using feeders with slippery tops, or simply using feeds with narrow feeding holes.
Another method that will confuse pigeons is hanging mirrors outside to make it seem like the garden has a bigger space than it does. Landscape gardening expert, Mac Harbourne-Bessant, said: “Using mirrors in your garden can create the illusion of additional space.”
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He explained: “It can also reflect planting to make it look like there are more plants in our garden.” Mac also recommended placing the mirrors horizontally to maximise the effect by hanging or putting them behind a bench. Birkdale, a fencing company, said: “This tip is extremely effective, simple to do and great if you’re on a budget. Adding mirrors to your outdoor space will instantly make it feel bigger, just like it does inside your home too.”
“Try adding a long row of mirrors on the wall or fence at the end of your garden. This will create the illusion that your garden is ‘doubled’ in length.” They added: “Alternatively, for a more English country garden look, pick an oversized antique mirror and allow climbers to grow around it. It’ll become part of the garden while making the space feel bigger.”
Have you done this gardening hack and has it worked? Let us know in the comments below.
