A cheap and simple technique could prove to be a game-changer for gardeners looking to enhance their efforts this summer. With the country fully in the midst of spring, many green-fingered enthusiasts across the country are planting and nurturing flowers, fruit and vegetables.

Crucial to gardening efforts is the time taken to protect gardens from curious animals who might unwittingly spoil months of hard work in their quest to explore and eat. Pigeons are one such offender which are well known for pecking plants and leaving droppings that can have disastrous consequences for gardens. Throughout the years, gardeners have tried a range of techniques to protect themselves from this nuisance but it seems that the answer was perhaps always lying in the kitchen.

Gardening expert Adeel ul-haq believes that tin foil can save gardeners time, effort and money by keeping pests away.

He told Country Living: “Pigeon droppings are highly acidic and can corrode everything from paint to metal surfaces in your garden.

"Not only this, but these droppings can also attract other pests such as rats, which can cause further damage to your home.”

He suggests scrunching up tin foil into balls to be hung from trees like Christmas decorations could prove to be an effective deterrent to the birds.

He added: “When the light hits the foil, it reflects and scares the pigeons away.”

According to Mr ul-haq, pigeons are sensitive to bright reflective surfaces meaning that the reflection of the sun off the tin foil could be enough to encourage the birds to leave your garden alone.

He continued: “The best way to keep pigeons out of your garden is to make it as unwelcoming as possible without harming them, and a cheap way of doing so is using a roll of foil from the supermarket.”

Tin foil is a multi-use item common in most kitchens that can be purchased cheaply online, with Amazon selling rolls for as little as 61p.

Another novel technique to protect plants is to place plastic forks around the garden to further deter pests, according to Gardening experts Farm Flavour.

They said: “Before you toss that box of unused plastic forks from last year’s holiday gathering, consider using them in your garden. 

“Placing forks in the soil around your plants will discourage animals like raccoons, cats, squirrels and deer from wandering into the garden and helping themselves to your crops.”