how can scare away blackbirds

[intense]

Blackbirds keep digging in my newly planted pot of pansies.I've covered the top with gravel and added a small plastic toy which i thought might deter them. I've just discovered they're not bothered and have made a complete mess all over the patio again!

[carlton23]

Insert some small canes and stretch black cotton to make it difficult for them to land.

[Lonnie]

The Blackbirds are after insects, and as the plants are in pots, why not cover the tops of the pots with fleece, or somesuch porous material.

[Robinia]

This surprises me, are you sure it's blackbirds? If you don't have a garden & the only earth you have is in the pots on your patio that would make it understandable but could it be squirrels...or foxes? The only time blackbirds disturb my pots is in the spring when they take the damp compost to build nests.

[woofgang]

bigger stones that they can't fling around worrk better than gravel

[john1066]

We have lots of blackbirds in our garden and some of them are quite tame..If you put a saucer of sultanas next to your pot i think they would prefer those. They bring their families to our garden and feed them..It's quite entertaining...

[Whoever]

The easiest way of stopping birds digging up your containers is to provide an easier source of food for them. If you get a bird table (preferably with a roof to protect the food from the rain) and top it up on a daily basis with mixed bird seed, sultanas, peanuts, stale cheese gratings, etc. you will get a wide range of birds visiting your garden. They will always go for the easy pickings and hopefully your plants will then be left alone.