[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]What’s more annoying than preparing your planting beds and carefully adding seedlings or transplants, only to have birds swoop down and peck at everything? Flying creatures like blackbirds, grackles, crows, and starlings all have a bad and well-earned reputation amongst gardeners. But here’s the complicating factor — you don’t want to harm the birds, you just want them to leave your dang tomatoes alone, right?
After all, the same birds that damage your garden are the very same ones that eat all the pesky bugs that also damage your garden. So, let’s look at some ways to protect your plants from these high flyers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]
As a proud balsam plant owner, you know just how beautiful these plants can be when they’re happily blooming in your garden. But you also know how frustrating it is when annoying birds start attacking your precious balsam plants and damaging their leaves, flowers, and stems. Don’t worry – I’ve got your back! In this article, I’ll share my top tips for keeping birds away from your balsam plants for good.
Why Birds Love to Feast on Balsam Plants
Before we dive into solutions, it’s important to understand exactly why birds are so attracted to balsam plants in the first place.
There are two main reasons birds love to munch on balsam plants
1. Tasty Seeds
Birds love protein-rich seeds, and balsam plants produce lots of seeds when they flower. Birds like cardinals, sparrows, finches, and more can’t resist indulging in these nutritious little snacks
2. Bright Flowers
Many birds seek out flowers not for the seeds, but for the sweet nectar inside. Hummingbirds in particular are drawn to the bright, colorful blooms of balsam plants. When they slurp up the nectar, they inevitably end up damaging delicate petals and buds.
So in essence, balsam plants are like an all-you-can-eat seed and flower buffet for birds. But don’t despair – there are plenty of ways to spoil their fun and save your balsams.
5 Surefire Ways to Protect Balsam Plants from Birds
Here are my top 5 techniques for keeping hungry birds away from your prized balsam plants:
1. Invest in Protective Netting
One of the most effective physical barriers against birds is netting. Cover your entire balsam plant with mesh netting to prevent birds from being able to access any part of the plant. The netting allows sunlight, water, and air to pass through while keeping birds out. Make sure to securely fasten the netting with stakes and ties to prevent clever birds from sneaking underneath.
2. Deter with Scare Tactics
Give birds a fright with creative scare tactics like these:
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Hang old CDs or metallic tape near plants – the flashing reflections will startle birds.
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Install a motion-activated sprinkler that sprays birds when they come near.
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Place realistic fake owls or hawks near plants – birds will avoid anything that looks like a predator.
3. Use Smelly Repellents
Look for bird repellent sprays or gels that use smells or flavors birds hate, like garlic, capsaicin, or mint. Apply them safely to balsam leaves and flowers according to product instructions. The nasty odor will keep birds far away from your plants. Reapply after rain.
4. Offer Tasty Alternatives
Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Try putting out special bird feeders stocked with birdseed, suet, fruit, or nectar. Position them far from your balsam plants. The birds will likely fill up on the free food rather than feasting on your balsams.
5. Stay Vigilant and Scare by Hand
Check balsam plants frequently for bird damage. If you catch birds in the act, scare them away immediately by yelling, clapping, spraying water, or running at them. Persistence is key to training birds to avoid your garden.
Bird Species Most Likely to Terrorize Balsams
These common bird species are the top culprits when it comes to destroying balsam plants:
- Finches
- Sparrows
- Starlings
- Crows
- Cardinals
- Hummingbirds
- Grosbeaks
If you notice these birds frequently attacking your balsams, take action right away using the deterrents suggested above. The sooner you can retrain them to stay away, the better.
When Are Balsams Most Susceptible to Bird Damage?
Spring and summer are the peak seasons when birds assault balsam plants. Here’s why:
Spring
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Balsams are flowering and setting new seeds – an irresistible snack for birds.
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Migrating birds passing through are hungry and attracted to the fresh flowers and seed pods.
Summer
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Established birds are feeding their chicks and seeking abundant nutrition from balsam seeds.
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Hummingbirds are most active and drawn to nectar-filled balsam blooms.
Be especially vigilant about protecting balsams during these high-risk seasons. Prioritize deterrents immediately before and during the start of flowering. Don’t give birds a chance to form bad habits.
Clever Ways to Hide Damage and Help Balsams Recover
If birds have already hit your balsam plants, don’t panic! Here are some crafty ways to disguise the damage and help your plants recover:
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Clip away ragged, damaged areas on flowers and leaves, shaping them into a more uniform, attractive look.
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Add compost and organic fertilizer to helpreplace lost nutrients the birds stole.
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Stake up any branches or stems bent and broken by bird activity.
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Consider using cut stems to propagate newstarts via cuttings – bonusplants!
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For bald spots, plant fast-growing annuals like cosmos or zinnias to fill in quickly.
With vigilance and the right deterrents, you can successfully safeguard your balsams against hungry birds. Don’t let those tweets and pecks stop your plants from thriving this season! Try out these expert tips and outsmart those feathered thieves. Your gorgeous balsam blooms will thank you.
5 Tips to Protect Your Plants
Bird netting. This is the most effective strategy, but it can also be messy. Raise your hand if you’ve ever covered your veggies with bird netting, only to have it become a tangled mess? Yep, join the club. So plan to use some inexpensive PVC pipe to create a couple of hoops from one side of your bed to the other, then drape bird netting over that. Secure with wire or landscape pins into the soil, and carefully lift up one side when it’s time to harvest. I know, it’s a bit of a hassle, but at least you’ll have produce to harvest.
Mylar balloons. Mylar balloons or reflective surveyor’s tape do the same thing — create a shiny, reflective flash that birds hate. Ever heard of hanging old CDs overhead as well? That’s the same concept. To keep this one effective, plan to move the balloons or tape around every few days to confuse the birds.
Covers. Covers are great for small seedlings (under 8”), then as the plants get bigger you can switch to one of these other suggestions. Use upside-down crates or disposable cups with the bottoms cut out to temporarily cover tender seedlings and protect them. They’ll still get sun and air circulation.
High-tech fake owls. While I’ve not tried this one myself, I know plenty of other gardeners who have. These fake owls move (spin, actually) and emit sounds that scare off potential feathered pests. As with the mylar balloons, plan to move the fake owl around the garden to keep the birds on their toes.
Fishing line. Nobody really knows why this one works, but it does. Got a row of seedlings? Drive a stake into each end of the row, then string 20-lb or greater fishing line monofilament) from one stake to the other, right above the row of plants. There is something about this fishing line that birds can’t stand, and it keeps them from coming near your wee veggies for their afternoon snack.
Tip: If you have bird feeders, make sure you place them well away from your edible garden. You don’t want to attract them with an appetizer only to have them realize there’s a full entrée nearby.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1585242059265{border-top-width: 2px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-left-width: 2px !important;border-left-color: #666b3a !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #666b3a !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #666b3a !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #666b3a !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}” el_class=”locally-blog”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1584544935851{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle”][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″ url=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kellogggarden.com%2Fproducts%2Fkellogg%2Fkellogg-garden-organics-patio-plus%2F|||”][vc_single_ =”20817″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1591985302524{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”locallyboximgnew”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_column_text el_class=”lcly-brand-name-new” css=”.vc_custom_1584544871848{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Kellogg Garden Organics[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”lcly-product-name-new” css=”.vc_custom_1591985345066{margin-bottom: 13px !important;}”]All Natural Garden Soil for Flowers & Vegetables[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Learn More” style=”custom” custom_background=”#561e2b” custom_text=”#ffffff” shape=”square” size=”lg” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kellogggarden.com%2Fproducts%2Fkellogg%2Fkellogg-garden-organics-patio-plus%2F|||” css=”.vc_custom_1584649186205{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”learnmorelocallyboxnew”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=”locallyboxnewright” width=”2/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1584548628684{padding-top: 0px !important;background-color: #666b3a !important;}”][vc_raw_html css=”.vc_custom_1591984589294{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]**Product not available in AZ, CA, HI, NV, UT. For a comparable product in these states click here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]
Keep the Birds AWAY using Tulle
FAQ
What can I use to cover plants from birds?
How do I stop birds from eating my plants?
How do commercial orchards keep birds away?
How to keep birds away from apricot trees?
How do you care for a balsam plant?
Young balsam plant care should include a time release fertilizer at transplant, when plants are at least 2 inches (5 cm.) tall and have a good root base. Balsam needs moist, well-drained soil and performs best in partial shade locations. Amend the soil with compost and break up clods before transplanting young balsam.
How to prevent birds from coming to your yard?
Let your dog out sometimes and it’ll make the birds less likely to come near your yard. If you wish to protect your plants, then installing bird netting around the plants will be wise. You can build a simple frame so that you can install the netting over the top of the plants without inhibiting plant growth.
How do I stop birds from eating my garden plants?
To stop birds from eating your garden plants, hang shiny objects that move a lot or make a noise around your yard. You can also try enclosing your garden beds so birds can’t get to them. Fake predators are great at keeping birds away, or let your dog or cat roam the yard to scare them.
Can you grow a balsam plant from seed?
Try growing Balsam plants from seed if you have a long growing season, or pick them up at your favorite nursery. Balsam plant care is trouble-free due to its resistance to many common garden pests. It may be plagued by soil nematodes, powdery mildew or Oedema, but these problems are relatively infrequent.