Re: newspaper mulch and blackbirds
- Subject: Re: newspaper mulch and blackbirds
- From: T* &* M* R*
- Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 08:50:01 +1300
liz wrote:
>
> However thickly I cover the newspaper, the blackbirds uncover it
> within a few days, and scatter the bits. I need to go round with a
> rake every afternoon and rake both newspaper and mulch back on
> the beds. The shredded newspaper looks pretty grotty until it degrades!
>
Liz
You have my deepest sympathy. My blackbirds are equally pestiverous and
not above throwing out quantities of mulch on to the paths and digging
up things i have just planted. It is not of course the paper which the
birds are after but the fat juicy worms sheltering underneath it.
The only effective remedy I have found is actually covering the beds.
Where there are seedlings I use row cover tunnels until the plants are
sturdy enough to resist being dug up (and sometimes surround larger
plants with odd bricks) and for bare mulched beds pegged-down bird
netting is really effective.
Fortunately for my sanity the beastly creatures usually go on holiday at
midsummer for several months after raising the year's broods.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand, SW Pacific. 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Time
