Regular readers will know that we have something that I call a living lid which covers our pond filter chamber.
The lid consists of three shallow trays in which are planted sempervivum and sedum.
Regular readers will also know that since I planted this up each year something devastates it. The prime suspects are the wood pigeons and blackbirds. This year has been no exception.
We had already bought some sempervivums and sedums to replant the trays but there seemed no point replanting unless we gave the plants some protection. The issue was that this is the garden and not the allotment and so we didn't want to have something that would be annoying to look at.
The only thing left was to finish off the ends of the wood so it looked more as though it was meant too be there - if you know what I mean, We found some wooden cupboard knobs that seemed to fit the bill and so these were stained and glued to the ends of the wooden 'legs'.
Now it's fingers crossed that this provides an adequate deterrent to the unknown vandal.
Copyright: Original post from Our Plot at Green Lane Allotments http://glallotments.blogspot.co.uk/ author S Garrett
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I hope that does the trick.
ReplyDeleteSo do we, Jo
DeleteI hope it does the trick for you, I have a hanging basket at the side of the house & birds keep on landing in it & flattening the plants.
ReplyDeleteWe will find out, Jo
DeleteThat looks very smart. The only thing missing is your 'wildlife camera' so you can take incriminating photos of the visiting delinquents when they come to cause more damage and find they are thwarted!
ReplyDeleteWe set one up last year which pointed to it being the wood pigeons or the blackbirds, Jayne - it was inconclusive,
DeleteWe set one up last year which pointed to it being the wood pigeons or the blackbirds, Jayne - it was inconclusive,
DeleteGood luck. I hope it works for you.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed, Daphne
DeleteBeautifully done, I hope it works. I'm having trouble with blackbirds in the garden at the moment, they're constantly rooting around in the pots and pulling clumps of soil out.
ReplyDeleteThey do tend to make a mess looking for bugs don't they CJ
DeleteWould it be too unkind to say that your construction looks like an upturned table? I reckon it will do the job though, whereas probably nothing else would!
ReplyDeleteI never realised that you had a cruel streak, Mark :)
DeleteI have exactly the same problem, I suspect it's birds after nesting material as they seem to like the moist soil under the gravel....or rooting for worms....I love your solution, I'm sure it will work!xxx
ReplyDeleteWe wondered whether they thought the sedum looked like a cluster of juicy grubs, Dina
DeleteIt's the blackbirds. I've watched them countless times in my troughs and pots. I rigged up something far less attractive and it does the job. It looks great Sue. I'm sure you'll have happy semps and sedum from now on.
ReplyDeleteI hope that they appreciate the effort Angie :)
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ReplyDeleteThat is just lovely! Martyn did a fantastic job with the frame. I adore succulents, and would love to incorporate more into our garden.
ReplyDeleteI'll pass on your compliments, Margaret
DeleteI've heard of birds uprooting plants in living roofs on buildings - they get round it by using planting trays covered with fine chicken wire mesh and getting the plants to grow through the mesh until big and dense enough to resist pulling from birds.
ReplyDeleteHowever if the birds just eat the plants, it's difficult to think of any solution other than a complete barrier!
Maybe once the pllants know together we can release them from captivuty S and D
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