Put CDs in your garden this month, home owners told

Gardeners are being urged to hang CDs in their gardens this July.

The reason is to protect fruit and veg from predators like birds. Although birds, and especially magpies, have a reputation for being attracted to shiny objects, the reflecting sunlight should actually scare them, meaning they won't pinch your strawberries or peck at your raspberries if you line CDs along your raised beds.

When the wind catches them, they will reflect in different directions, which startles birds and scares them away, reports the Express. Gardening page Food For Trees and Africa said: "Did you know that by hanging old CDs around your food garden, you'll startle birds with the reflecting light and keep them away from your vegetables and herbs. It's a trick we've put into action at the Food and Trees for Africa food garden."

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They added: "Start by hanging the discs loosely so that the slightest breeze makes them spin and catch the sun's rays. Every now and then, change their location around your beds to prevent the birds from getting accustomed to them."

The CDs will instantly trigger birds' flight response, causing them to swiftly flee.

It's important to occasionally change the location of the discs to prevent birds from becoming accustomed to their source.

This way, you can cultivate strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes and other crops without the worry of avian intruders, while guiding birds towards safer areas like lawns where they can feast on slugs and worms instead.