For many garden lovers, a quiet afternoon among the flowers has become a thing of the past. Pigeons, however, can make a mess of lawns, tearing up plants and leaving corrosive droppings on everything from garden furniture to freshly washed laundry.

As the warm weather rolls in, homeowners who would like to enjoy their gardens are becoming frustrated with these feathered nuisances. With summer on its way, these unwelcome visitors run the risk of spoiling occasions with family and friends in the sun. Now, experts have suggested a surprising yet inexpensive and humane solution to scare them off.

“Pigeon droppings are highly acidic and can corrode everything from paint to metal surfaces in your garden," said gardening expert Adeel ul-haq to Country Living.

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

As a result, the expert recommended scrunching up tin foil balls and hanging them on a string to keep pigeons at bay.

Pigeons are particularly sensitive to bright, reflective surfaces, so the glint of foil in the sunlight can be an effective deterrent.

“When the light hits the foil, it reflects and scares the pigeons away,” Adeel ul-haq explained, as the foil movement creates the illusion of a predator.

“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,” he added.

Pest control experts at Northwest Exterminating also suggest laying strips of foil under the soil or around vulnerable plants, as birds don't like the feeling of foil under their beaks and will stay away.

A 20-metre roll of wrapping foil by Stamford Street is available at Sainsbury's for just 99p.