Feed Your Garden Birds To Help With Your Aphid Problems.
The reason that most people have bird feeders in their gardens is because they like to see the different species or they want to help boost bird populations, particularly during the cold weather or during the breeding season.
But now there’s an even better reason to feed birds. A new study by researchers from the University of Reading and published in the journal Basic and Applied Ecology, shows that providing food for birds can reduce the number of aphids found on nearby vegetation.
The study,using food provided by Ernest Charles and feeders provided by Gardman, examined the size and survivor-ship of colonies of pea aphids(greenfly)on broad bean plants in suburban gardens where bird feeders were present or were absent.
In those gardens where bird food was provided, aphid colonies on plants that were accessible to birds were smaller and survived for shorter periods of time than expected when compared with gardens where no bird feeders were present.
This is the first experimental evidence that feeding wild birds in domestic gardens can lead to significant reductions in the abundance and longevity of greenfly populations.
Find out more from:
http://bbsrc.ac.uk/news/food-security/2012/120404-pr-feeding-wild-birds-reduces-pests.aspx.
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This Christmas, why not surprise the green-thumbed wife or husband with a gardening gift that keeps on giving? The GardenAdvice Gardening Course offers a perfect opportunity for gardeners of all levels to deepen their skills and expand their knowledge.
This course is ideal for anyone who enjoys getting their hands dirty and is looking to expand their gardening knowledge. Whether they dream of creating their own vegetable patch, growing beautiful flowers, or designing a sustainable outdoor space, the course has something for every gardener.
Give them the tools they need to turn their gardening passion into expertise. The course makes a perfect Christmas gardening gift that fits into their schedule as the course is run in your own garden on a date to suit you. Let them dig into their dream garden with the skills and confidence that come from professional training.
