Hanging planters not only enhance your property, but also provide attractive places for birds to nest. Bird-proof hanging baskets will prevent overly protective feathered parents from dive-bombing you. It also dispels concerns about damaging eggs or babies when watering or maintaining your containers. Try some of the suggestions in this article for bird-friendly gardening.
Most gardeners accept birds and even create shelters for their flying friends. However, in some cases, the little ones decide to nest in hanging baskets and other containers. It’s easy to see why they find these sites attractive, with their leafy protection from predators and the weather. You have a couple of options if the birds become a nuisance or if you are worried about damaging the nests.
Bird Proof Hanging Baskets
The first line of defense is prevention. Here are some steps you can take to prevent birds from taking up residence on your potted plants:
- Provide plenty of other nesting sites in your garden. Build birdhouses and nesting boxes
- When planting, place light wire mesh over the basket or container, so birds cannot enter to build nests.
- Use fake predators to deter them from your planting area. These may include rubber snakes or a fake owl.
- Place streamers along the edges of your home or wherever you hang baskets. This will prevent birds from nesting in hanging baskets by scaring them to a more suitable area.
Too late! I have a bird nesting in my hanging basket
Even with some prevention, you may find yourself in the possession of birds that nest in hanging plants. Contrary to some initial research, you can move a nest and the parents will still take care of it, as long as you don’t move it where they can’t find it.
Place a similar hanging basket lined with coconut fiber or moss next to the original and move the nest to the new location. If you have a hanging plant with birds, this simple eviction will usually work. As a preventative step, hang the basket every year when you hang others.
If you’ve tried everything you can to keep birds from hanging baskets, try some serious war. Raise small bamboo skewers on the plant to keep animals away. It certainly won’t harm them, but there won’t be a flat surface on which to build a nest.
Another idea for inhibiting birds in hanging baskets is to place a couple of cotton balls soaked in citrus oil in the nest. The citrus scent may repel them.
Overall, the best idea is to enjoy wildlife so up close and personal. Be careful when watering if you have a hanging plant with birds. Use a light spray or hand water around babies. Once the young birds have flown through the nest, remove it to prevent it from becoming a nesting site for insects.