Woman Uses Chicken Wire To DIY Rustic Cloches That Protect Potted Plants From Squirrels & Birds

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Every person dreads going out to their garden and seeing the tell-tale signs of a heist: Half-eaten tomatoes, bits of strawberry, and what could be the remnants of a green pepper all lying motionless on the ground. If this scenario is relatable, you may have wondered, at various times, who put the invisible sign above your garden that says all your crops are free. If you're tired of dealing with this plight, it might be time to take a hint from gardener Anya Lautenbach, or @anya_thegarden_fairy on Instagram. To solve this problem, she repurposed chicken wire into a rustic, cottage-core cloche that not only looks super cute, but more importantly, stops birds, squirrels, and other small critters from stealing your hard-earned garden harvest.

From the looks of it, Anya used regular chicken wire for the task, so something like the TIFOR 39-inch by 14-inch Chicken Wire Net from Walmart would likely work. The exact amount you need will vary based on how many plants you need to cover and how big they are. Your budget-friendly garden cloche will also require some thick twine, like Slaprin Twisted Nautical Rope. Make sure it is thick enough to deter a critter's determined teeth, at least for a while. Finally, gather some scissors, tin snips or other wire cutters, and a pair of gardening gloves.

To recreate Anya's cloches, you'll need to determine the circumference around the plant you want to cover. A simple hack is to use some of the twine to make a circle around the plant's base. (It becomes a de facto measuring tape.) Ensure the circle around the plant is wide enough to accommodate its leaves as they grow. Once you have the measurement, roll the chicken wire out flat and cut it to the same length as the twine. If the wire is thin enough, regular scissors should work fine. If the wire is thicker and stronger,  use wire cutters instead to avoid ruining your scissors. 

Next, roll up the chicken wire into a round shape. If you've done this correctly, its walls will look like a grain silo. Then, twist the ends of the wire together to keep the cloche closed. If you want more reinforcement, add a few strategically placed pieces of twisted floral wire, like the PAXCOO Green Floral Paddle Wire, or zip ties that resist harsh weather. Next, crush the top of the chicken wire so that it takes on the shape of a bell. Wrap a long strand of the twine or cord around the top of it. Tie the ends, and place the cloche over your plants. As an opptional step, you can put the cloche against some bamboo stakes to keep your new garden accent upright. Now, you have a solution to prevent squirrels and birds from being food-stealing pests.