Gardeners everywhere rejoice at the sight of their plants bearing fruit, but that joy can be short-lived when pests start to feast on the bounty. Strawberry plants are usually bursting with potential at this time of year, with gardeners eagerly anticipating the moment they can harvest and savour their home-grown delights.
However, these juicy fruits also attract unwanted attention from wildlife such as birds and squirrels, who are all too keen to get their share. Fear not, green-fingered friends, for gardening expert and social media sensation Simon Akeroyd has come to the rescue. In a TikTok video, he shared his top tip for keeping those pesky critters away from your prized strawberries.
He explained in his post: “I don’t use nets to protect the fruit because birds can get caught in them, and squirrels can tear through nets.
“So instead, I’ve made some wooden frames covered with chicken wire and placed them on top of my raised beds.”
In the clip, Simon provided a step-by-step guide on safeguarding your strawberries. He begins by measuring and sawing wooden frames before assembling them, reports MirrorOnline.
Next, he secures chicken wire over the frames and positions them neatly atop the strawberry plants. His message is clear: “Hopefully this will allow me to eat the strawberries before the squirrels, birds and my spaniels.”
Simon Akeroyd, a renowned garden writer and author of 30 horticultural books including ’50 Ways to Outsmart a Squirrel, and other garden pests’, is a popular figure in the gardening community.
In his spare time, Simon shares his wealth of knowledge on social media platforms, particularly TikTok.
With an impressive following of 804.1k followers and a staggering 12.6 million likes, Simon’s videos cover a wide range of topics. These include safeguarding your fruits and vegetables from wildlife, to cultivating your own fresh produce to save money and unnecessary supermarket trips.
While crafting your own protective measures may seem daunting and time-consuming, it ensures that your strawberries and other fresh produce are safe from animals while still being able to bask in the sunlight outdoors.
By undertaking this simple task, gardeners can keep their produce pristine. Even better, their garden spaces will remain neat and orderly – and there’s no greater satisfaction than a clean and flourishing outdoor space.