Why you need to be putting chilli or hot sauce in your garden as soon as you can this Winter
YOU may take a more hands-off approach to your garden during the winter months but there is still one step you should be taking.
Adding a kitchen ingredient to your outdoor space can play a significant role in helping your local wildlife.
Experts have urged gardeners to sprinkle chilli powder outside to help birds survive the winter.
And while your local robins and blackbirds aren't likely to have an affinity for spice, the ingredient is said to work wonders for their survival.
Scattering the spice helps to deter other forms of wildlife from your garden.
Chilli powder protects any food left out for birds by preventing animals from tucking in.
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This step can be particularly helpful in winter when birds find it more difficult to scavenge for food.
Daily Express revealed that gardeners have even reporter seeing fewer birds in recent years.
This may be due to the reduced number of insects, which has gone down 80% in the last 20 years.
The habitat loss is thought to have contributed to issues right up the food chain.
With a reduced number of insects, birds face the risk of starvation in the colder months.
However, if you leave alternative foods out for birds you run the risk of other creatures, such as squirrels, eating it.
To combat this, you should sprinkle chilli powder around areas such as bird tables or bird baths.
This will allow you to leave out a mix of seeds, nuts, mealworms, and fruit without risking it being stolen.
As well as bruised fruit, homeowners can get rid of stale leftovers such as pastries, cooked rice, and breadcrumbs.
Lacing these snacks with chilli powder will ensure only birds will consume it.
The experts explained that this hack works because birds aren't affected by spicy foods.
December gardening jobs
The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, shared the gardening tasks you need to do in the final month of the year.
"Bare root season has started - so get your fruit trees like plums, apples and pears, in the ground now. Bare root are cheaper and establish quickly.
Spend some time cleaning, oiling and sharpening your tools - you’ll thank yourself later. And carefully clean your lawn mower - get rid of all the gunk stuck to the bottom.
Onion bulbs can go in the ground - in fact Boxing Day is a traditional day for getting the seeds going - and garlic and broadbeans in if you haven’t got them in,
Prevent your pond from freezing with a tennis ball on the surface. You can place a hot pan on the surface if its frozen over and you’ve got fish.
Reduce your houseplant watering - but get in a Christmas Cactus - they’re a great all year round houseplant which blooms in December.
It's the main pruning time for grape vines if you’ve lost control over the summer. Cut back and tie in.
It's a good month to get hard landscaping done - so you’re not putting all your plants at risk as you traipse around the muddy garden in heavy boots."
On the other hand, squirrels and foxes are reported to hate any kind of spice.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds officially endorse the trick.
"When buying bird food, try to get a good mix of peanuts, seeds, and live food like mealworms and waxworms," they advised.
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"Strong chilli powder or pepper sauce like tabasco can be shaken onto bird food.
"Birds aren't bothered by the chilli but most squirrels can't put up with the burning sensation and will leave the food alone."