Gardeners told to plant one flower to deter pigeons as they see it as ‘danger’

If you’re looking to keep pigeons at bay in your garden, one flower colour could be the key.

There are many ways you can keep these pests out of the way without them causing any destruction so you can still enjoy viewing them and hearing their beautiful birdsong. One of which is to plant a certain colour of flowers, as it apparently it acts as a warning to pigeons, according to Sefton Meadows Garden Centre.

The experts say that white flowers act as a ‘danger’ colour to pigeons and can deter the opportunistic feeders from making a mess and excess noise.

They said: “White is a ‘danger’ colour to birds, much in the same way that red is a warning colour to humans.

“Many birds use the white plumage in their feathers to show each other that there is danger ahead, so planting a variety of white flowers around areas you want to keep protected might be enough to stop pigeons from landing”.

Thankfully there are plenty of gorgeous white flower varieties that you can choose from, but the experts have shared a few of their favourites, reports the Express.

These include:

White hydrangeas

White roses

White peonies

However, many want their gardens to be full of plants with colour, so instead they should stick to planting colours in areas that don’t need pigeon protection.

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White flowers aren’t the only anti-pigeon measure that gardeners can take – installing decoys of their predators could be just as effective.

Pigeons, like all animals, are instinctively wary of their natural enemies and will “stay well away” when they sense danger. If a cat or a bird of prey is perceived to threaten your green space, pigeons are unlikely to stick around and “will fly away promptly”.

Many garden centres stock statues of creatures such as hawks, eagles, owls, and cats. Placing a couple of these in plain sight could be an efficient deterrent.

For those interested, B&Q offers the Flying Hawk Garden Bird Deterrent on sale for £12.99. A more affordable option, the Luminous Bird Repellent Hanging Eagle with Music Flying Bird Scarer Garden Decor, is available on eBay for merely £6.83.