Gardens are a wonderful place for attracting birds, but when they end up drawing in pigeons this can prove to be a problem....For More CONTINUE THE FULL READING▶▶
These garden pests often cause crop damage and can feed on plants in gardens and allotments. They feed on a wide range of plants but seem particularly keen on the leaves of brassicas, lilacs and peas.
They will peck at the leaves and rip off portions, often leaving just the stalks and larger leaf veins.
They may also strip buds, leaves and fruits from blackcurrants and other fruit bushes.
Gardeners may not see the pigeons feeding on plants, as they often visit in the early morning.
To ensure pigeons are no longer a hassle in the garden, bird experts at Avian Enterprises have shared four “homemade repellents” using smells they “hate” to “deter them”.
1. Peppermint oil spray
Peppermint oil is an effective DIY bird-repellent spray to keep pigeons away. They detest this smell, and so they will surely stay away from gardens once they smell peppermint.
To make this spray, combine 14 drops of peppermint oil, and 14 drops of lemon oil in a spray bottle with half a cup of white vinegar and water.
Spray the solution around the garden, but know that the smell will last for hours only. Reapply the spray solution during the early morning and later afternoon.
2. Cayenne pepper spray
In order to create an effective DIY bird repellent spray using cayenne, simply gather all the ingredients and follow the instructions. Pigeons hate the smell of it, so concocting the mixture is effective.
For this repellent, six drops of dish soap, two tablespoons of cayenne pepper and one gallon of water are needed.
Fill a big container with water and mix in the liquid dish soap and cayenne pepper. Leave the mixed solution for about a day or two at the most. After a maximum of 48 hours, stir the cayenne pepper solution.
Once thoroughly mixed, transfer some of the solution to a clean spray bottle, leaving the rest in the big container for future use. Then use the spray to keep birds from nesting in the garden. Reapply the spray after one week.
3. Garlic spray
Garlic has a pungent smell that repels pigeons and it’s non-toxic, so plants will not be harmed. This spray only requires two ingredients – eight cloves of garlic and two cups of oil.
Peel the garlic and crush them using a knife and chopping board. Put the crushed garlic inside the glass jar and mix in the olive oil.
Once thoroughly mixed, cover the jar and leave it inside the fridge for about five days. Once the garlic oil solution is done, transfer it to a spray bottle or put the solution in small containers.
Place the small containers that are filled with garlic oil around the garden or spray the garlic oil repellent around the garden and plants.
4. Cinnamon spray
Making a repellent spray using cinnamon is the easiest out of the four options. Simply combine three parts of water with one part of cinnamon in a spray bottle and use it around the garden.
