Add A Festive Touch To Your Tomato Cages To Ward Off Pesky Birds

Tomatoes have many fans, but they also have enemies. And those enemies don't wear villain masks, they come wearing beaks and feathers instead. If you've ever grown tomatoes, you'll know that as soon as they start to redden on the vine, the birds won't be too far behind. But here's a weird and wonderful tip to keep birds away from your tomato plants this summer: hang red Christmas ornaments from your tomato cages to confuse and deter these tomato-stealing bandits.

Yes, we're talking about the bright and shiny Christmas baubles you keep in the attic until December 1st. It turns out, birds are visually attracted to red (which is why ripe tomatoes often get devoured, fast). By hanging the red ornaments before your tomatoes ripen, you'll trick birds into thinking they've spotted some lovely ripe fruit. But when they swoop in, they'll only peck a hard surface with no delicious food to be found. The theory is that after this failed attempt, they won't bother coming back due to their surprisingly good memories. This hack is a great way to avoid tossing broken or defective Christmas ornaments that aren't good enough for the tree. Any festive red ball will do the job, even with a broken hook or some chipped paint.

Ensuring this hack works properly will take some care. First, use plastic baubles, not glass, because glass can cause injuries to wildlife or anyone else puttering around your garden. Second, place the ornaments on the cage before the tomatoes ripen, not after. You want to lure the birds to your plant while your tomatoes are unappealing, not invite them to lunch. Finally, make sure the ornaments are tightly secured to the tomato cage, either with the hook provided, or with twine, wire, or zip ties.

Remember that when it comes to deterring birds from your vegetable garden, they can be more clever than they seem. This bird deterrent will lose its effectiveness over time. To rid your garden of pesky birds, you'll need to use multiple tactics and rotate them throughout the growing season. Other visual bird deterrents include the use of reflective tape, ultraviolet light, and traditional scarecrows. 

So, is this trick worth a try? Definitely. Worst case scenario, and your garden will look like Christmas came early (or never ended). Best case scenario, and you'll actually get to keep the fruits of your labor — which is a Christmas present in and of itself.