Bugs and Birds, keeping them off my veggies

[beckoes]

...ones they start growing anyway!

So now i have planted my garden im worried about birds and bugs getting in there. I have NO idea what i need to worry about, what bugs can i expect....Wondering if i should put some kind of net over the garden to keep the birds off....there are LOTS of birds in our garden! and scrub turkeys. Dont want to use chemicals and know i can spray with garlic etc. I have companion planted abit.

Any tips??

[Trillian]

You sure can get a net to cover them to keep the birds off. We have our apricot tree netted because once they start to ripen they will all be ruined by the birds in no time at all. As for bugs it's hard to know what you will get. You may get earwigs and slugs are a possibility. It's something you can't pre-prepare for really and can only treat once they are there kwim?

[Laranna]

Well, I don't know if this will work in the veggie patch, but on our koi pond, we've put one of those rubber snakes on the side. It scares the birds away! We used to get an ibis stealing our fish, once we put the snake there, the bird hasn't tried stealing them since!

[Phteven]

You could get a bantam. A full sized chook will tear your vege patch apart but a bantam is a usefull bug catcher once your plants are established.

[nic]

I second the rubber snake idea. We had some birds chomping away at one tomato plant in a pot, so i went to the $2 shop and got the only rubber snake they had. It worked though Just need to track down some more just incase we need anymore. I just need to figure out how to stop my dog eating DD's strawberries

[beckoes]

love the rubber snake idea!! and any excuse to get a chicken! thanks ladies.

[fourthontheway]

Fake snakes are great to scare the birds away, but you have to remember to move them once a week because otherwise a smart breed of bird will cotton to the trick

You can also get an organic spray of pyrethrum, garlic, and chili, that keeps bugs at bay, and there are metal bands that go around the base of pots, or barden beds, and keep snails and slugs away.

Also, if you brew a very strong batch of coffee (I'm pretty sure instant wouldn't work) and strain it, then bung it in a spray bottle and spray your veg with that, it's meant to work well, that's what my neighbour does I'll give it a burl as soon as our organic spray runs out.

[Astrid]

Old CD's hung up around the garden can scare off the birds with the way the sun light glints off them. We were using large bottles to protect some of the seedlings when we first put them in, helped stop the snails and in the cooler weather acted like a mini green house. Now we are not using the bottles we have stuck them on the top of some the stacks around the garden and have found the noise they make when they move in the wind seems to also keep the birds away as well.