Keep Unwanted Crows Out Of Your Yard With The Help Of A Kitchen Staple

Crows are magnificent creatures. Their striking caws can be heard in cities and towns across the U.S., and they are infamously clever, having the ability to remember people, solve tasks, and use tools. However, they can also do some serious damage to your crops. These corvids are adaptable survivors and tend to eat almost everything — including your garden fruits and veggies. So if you're seeing melons or apples with peck marks or missing and dispersed berries or corn, crows may be the culprit. Thankfully, there's something you can do to keep unwanted crows out of your yard, and it begins in the kitchen. Aluminum foil is a staple in many pantries, but it can also be used to deter crows from your crops.

There are so many ways aluminum foil can keep pests away from your home and garden, and when it comes to crows, it works as a visual deterrence. As foil is reflective, crows can become confused and scared by it. The unpredictability of the foil, paired with its rustling noise, can be effective at making the crows stay away from it (and your crops).

When using aluminum foil to keep pesky crows out of your garden, there are a few ways you can place it around the area. Some people use scrunched up balls near their plants or lay it under the soil. However, another great way of setting it up is to place it on wires. 

Using monofilament line or fine wire, create lines over your crops, making sure that everything that needs protecting has a wire across it. Place the wire at a height of around 6 to 8 feet, using stakes to keep it in place. Once the wire is secure, attach strips of aluminum foil to it. The width of these strips should be around the same width as a ribbon, as this lets them move and flutter in the wind. 

Doing this is a useful way to keep crows away, but it must be said that crows are very smart creatures, and they may soon realize there is no threat. This means it's helpful to move the foil around often so they don't get used to it. You may also want to look at other ways to protect your plants, such as installing insect netting, which creates a physical barrier between your crops and the hungry crows. Sometimes, protecting your garden from damage is a bit of a trial-and-error process! Try the aluminum foil method first, and keep an eye on your garden to see if you need to alter it or add more methods.