Summer is rolling through and July is almost here! Whispering Springs Nursery of Jasper, Georgia hopes you and your family have been enjoying the warm weather and are spending some fun time outdoors! The upcoming date of July 5th is known as, “Build a Scarecrow Day,” and since scarecrows are important to gardens, we thought we’d explore this unique day.

Why Scarecrows in July?

It does sound a bit strange to have a day for scarecrows in July. Most of us associate these straw-filled friends with fall decor, not summer. However, from a farmer’s perspective, scarecrows are necessary for keeping birds away from crops while they are growing in the fields – which occurs in the summertime! So although they have become a decoration in the fall (the time of harvesting crops), now is actually when they are needed most during the growing season!

DIY Scarecrows

Interesting in making your own scarecrow, or at least sometime to deter the birds from your garden? Here are some easy DIY ideas:

• Traditional Scarecrow: When you think about a scarecrow, this is the type that everyone pictures when you say the word. They are meant to look like people working in the garden, and can be made in a variety of manners. Simply gather your materials, build your scarecrow and post him in your garden. Plenty of DIY tutorials can be found online should you need help. In general, you will need the following supplies:
  • A Frame – Build a wooden “T” or cross to hang the scarecrow on or use another item, such as a large, metal stake to stick in the ground.
  • Old Clothing (pants, shirt, gloves, etc.)
  • Stuffing- Use straw, leaves or rags; newspaper can be useful, but needs to be covered for weather in a plastic garbage bag. Some even use empty 2-liter soda bottles, connect them & create a body frame.
  • Head & Hat- These are optional, but may give your scarecrow the right look to scare away unwanted birds from the garden.

• Pie Pan Scarecrow: This ‘scarecrow’ does not look like a person. It is simply an empty aluminium pie pan tied to a wooden pole or stake with about a foot of string. The idea is that the pie pan is shiney and able to move and twist in the wind, creating an erratic clanking noise when it moves, causing birds to be scared away by the reflection and noise.

• Moving ‘Bird Scarers’: Many stores sell these bird scarers, such as the owl with the wobbly head and the flying falcon bird deterrent. Other make simply add tricks to their traditional scarecrows, such as: adding pie pans to hang from the sides, using hats or other clothing that will flutter or move in the wind, and by adding old CDs and other reflective materials. DIY tutorials can also be found to create moving pieces that act as pinwheels, but that are created out of bottles, spare parts and sometimes even trash!

Scarecrow Tips for Success

Although scarecrows are meant to keep birds and even some other wildlife like deer and rabbits away, doesn’t mean that it will continue to work forever without a little work on your part. Be sure you move your scarecrow(s) around, try to add reflective elements or noisy pieces the wind can make move, and you may even consider changing up your traditional scarecrows wardrobe every now and then.

If you decide to make a scarecrow for your garden, we sure hope these tips help! Also, we welcome you to stop by Whispering Springs Nursery this summer to check out our inventory and say “hi!” We look forward to seeing you this summer and please, have a safe and fun Independence Day!

Questions or concerns? Please contact us at Whispering Springs Nursery today at 770-893-1254.

Have a wonderful & safe Fourth of July from Whispering Springs Nursery!