Expert shares four plants pigeons 'hate' and will keep them out of your garden

Pigeons can be a real nuisance in the garden as they will eat away at seeds in flowers to forage for food and they can damage plants

As autumn rolls in, pigeons can wreak havoc in gardens by feasting on plants to bulk up their fat reserves for the colder months. Not only can they damage your greenery, but their droppings also pose a health hazard by potentially contaminating soil with disease.

Despite the challenge of evicting pigeons once they've claimed a spot on your property since wild birds are safeguarded in Britain and disturbing their nests is off-limits, preventing them from being drawn to your garden is quite straightforward.

Zack DeAngelis from Pest Pointers recommends certain plants that have an incredible natural deterrent effect on our feathered friends. He said: "Birds do a lot more good than we even realise, but birds become a problem when they overtake your space and start to cause a mess.

"We're talking about the plants that birds hate, and how to use them to take back ownership of your outdoors," reports the Express.

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To help maintain a pigeon-free zone, consider planting any flowers with white petals like roses or hydrangeas. The reason behind this avian repellent?

Pigeons tend to avoid white flowers since birds often sport white feathers as a universal signal of danger. Also, white blossoms make it tougher for pigeons to stay camouflaged, leaving them vulnerable to predators such as owls.

Zack said: "White flowering plants, of any kind, are generally said to alarm a bird, as the colour white can be dangerous to them. Why? If birds are up against a stark, white-coloured flower, it's way harder for them to hide within the plant and thus, can be seen by predators."

"Birds typically are darker in colour or have bright-coloured bodies, both of which will stick out like a sore thumb when compared to the bright, white flowers."

He also noted that birds dislike strong scents, which can irritate them and mask the smell of more appealing plants.

Zack mentioned: "Birds hate garlic because it can overwhelm their senses, but more importantly, it just doesn't smell as delicious to them as it does to us. With this in mind, you can easily use garlic to deter birds in a few easy ways."

He further advised: "If you have a vegetable garden, or vegetables that keep getting eaten by a bird, adding a Sweet Vadalia Onion Plant or green onions into your outdoor space will not only give you a great food source but will keep birds far, far away."

If tending to a veggie patch sounds like too much hard work, consider potent-smelling herbs like mint, lavender, or thyme; their oils are odious to pigeons. Zack explained: "These fragrant plants can irritate a bird's senses at stronger concentrations but they primarily mask scents that otherwise would attract birds."

For a sharp solution, prickly options such as blackberry bushes could keep our feathered friends at bay as pigeons tend to avoid areas with plants they can't nibble on. A top pick for a pigeon-proof garden is the formidable blackberry spike, but for those who'd rather not commit to gardening, bird spikes atop fences might just do the trick.

Zack remarked: "Another plant that can keep birds away is the blackberry spike, and it's not so much that they hate the berry or taste, it's that the plant itself is spiky and is dangerous to a bird."

He also recommended blackberry spikes as an effective way to signal birds that they're not welcome, adding: "Birds are not going to stay around where they feel unsafe or annoyed. With that in mind, planting blackberry spikes may be a good way to give birds a warning."

Meanwhile, daffodils hold a secret weapon against avian invaders: a poisonous chemical compound which birds are wise enough to avoid. Zack said: "According to Colorado State University, daffodil stems, leaves, and bulbs contain a chemical called lycorine. This can be dangerous for a bird, and get this-birds instinctually already know this.

"With a bird's awareness, planting daffodils will not only look beautiful in your backyard, but will keep birds and other pests away, as the sight of them merely means danger."

Daffodils are typically planted in the autumn, between September and November, when the temperature drops, allowing them to establish strong roots before the winter chill sets in.

If you're struggling with a persistent pigeon problem, now is the ideal time to start cultivating daffodils. Not only will you be treated to a stunning display next year, but you'll also have a natural deterrent that will hopefully keep these unwanted birds at bay for good.