A good scarecrow is worth its weight in wet hay. Even if it is not birds you are battling, something standing tall in your garden can make a surprising difference.
Here in New Zealand, crows are not the problem. But sparrows? They will turn a tray of tender seedlings into a salad bar in minutes. Shallow-planted seeds do not stand a chance. That is where the scarecrow comes in. It can help protect your patch and bring a bit of character to the garden as well.
But let’s back up for a moment.
Do Scarecrows Really Work?
Traditionally, scarecrows were used to frighten birds like crows and blackbirds away from crops. The silhouette of a human figure in the field was often enough to keep birds from landing nearby.
These days, their effectiveness depends on the local wildlife and how often you change things up. Birds are smart. If your scarecrow looks the same every day, they will soon catch on. A little movement or change now and then helps keep them guessing. Try adding something shiny, fluttery, or noisy to help keep birds at bay.
In our case, the scarecrow was built to deal with a different kind of visitor. The neighbourhood cats had taken a liking to our vege patch. They would squash the seedlings, dig up the rows, and leave unpleasant surprises in our carefully prepared soil. We decided it was time for a garden guardian.
Surprisingly, the scarecrow helped. And building it was even better.
What Should a Scarecrow Look Like, Anyway?
There are no rules. A scarecrow can be as lifelike, silly, strange, or creative as you like. From classic straw-stuffed farmers to colourful characters in mismatched clothes, anything goes. The only real requirement is that it stands up and holds together in the weather.
This is a project where you can really use what you have on hand and make something unique.
Our DIY Scarecrow: Meet Leo the Disco Scarecrow
Here is how our scarecrow came together.
Materials We Used:
- Scrap wood for the frame
- Old clothes
- Plastic shopping bags
- Old newspapers
- Garden gloves
- Number 8 wire
- An old pair of sneakers
- A sacking bag
- A semi-deflated soccer ball
- A wig from the kids’ dress-up box
- A sparkly scarf that was too bright to wear but too fun to throw away
How We Built It:
-
Build the Frame
We started with a tall piece of scrap wood as the main post. We nailed on cross pieces for shoulders and hips. To give the scarecrow some shape, we added extra bits of wood for arms and legs. -
Add the Clothes
We dressed it in some old jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. To give the clothes form, we scrunched up newspaper and stuffed it into plastic bags, then packed those inside the clothing. We tied the cuffs so nothing would fall out. -
Feet and Hands
We nailed an old pair of sneakers to the bottom of the frame. For hands, we used garden gloves fitted with number 8 wire. The wire helped shape the fingers and let us bend them a bit. These were nailed to the ends of the arms. -
Create the Head
For the head, we filled a sacking bag with a semi-deflated soccer ball. This gave it a solid shape. We tied the bag shut and attached it securely to the top of the post. -
Style and Personality
Finally, we added some flair. An old wig gave Leo a wild hairstyle, and a glittery scarf from the costume pile added sparkle. Suddenly, our scarecrow had a name and a story. Leo the Disco Scarecrow was ready for garden duty.
Tips for Making Your Own
- Use what you already have at home. Old clothes, damaged sports gear, or worn-out accessories can all be repurposed.
- Add some movement or shine to increase effectiveness. Try attaching strips of tinfoil, old CDs, or fabric that flaps in the wind.
- Change your scarecrow’s position or clothing every few weeks to keep birds guessing.
- Get creative and have fun with it. There is no wrong way to build a scarecrow. Give it a name, a theme, or even a whole backstory.
Whether or not it scares away every sparrow or keeps every cat from digging, your scarecrow becomes part of your garden’s story. It is a fun, hands-on project that uses recycled materials and sparks imagination. It also adds a bit of charm and personality to your growing space.
And once it has a face, it becomes something more than just a bundle of clothes on a stick. It becomes a character.
Not sure if it will work or not for the sparrows and cats, but sure has scared the living %#@proverbial out of us a few times.
Forget about the cats. Rediscover your creative side.
