How To Make A Scarecrow From Farm Materials

Scarecrows have been around since Squanto taught early New England settlers how to guard corn as well as mature it . flair have transfer , but homemade bird-scarer are still some of the most in force around . Today , they ’re growing in popularity because their bare - bones construction offers an inexpensive and environmentally acceptable hinderance against pesky predators .

Here ’s a step - by - step plan to assist you build a scarer or any sizing garden , often by using farm material you ’ve been storing away or abuse over .

Materials

Step 1: Gather Scarecrow Garb

Scarecrow visual aspect is important . The attic or press are good sources for a suitable scarecrow press . Old shirt and jackets , forgotten blue jean , discarded garb , and bib overalls are basic bird-scarer garb . Also consider clothes that are in respectable circumstance but ugly — like last year ’s Christmas tie or old company hats . Brighter is better . Crows , black birds and starling , for example , are tender to the coloring material red . Rachael Brugger

Step 2: Site the Scarecrow

take a relatively permanent spot for your straw man . It ’s normally too floppy and disjoin for much moving around . Choose a strategic domain in your garden , such as a blueberry bush patch , cerise trees or a gratifying - maize patch : These pip are on the strike list for many square freeloaders . If yours is a tidy garden — say 100 by 200 metrical unit — consider putting a homemade scarecrow at both ends .

Step 3: Build the Frame

Sharpen one end of the mainstay celestial pole with a tomahawk , and pound it 2 invertebrate foot into the earth to give your homemade scarer a inflexible backbone . Before attaching the crosspiece , pull one trouser leg down over the top of the anchorman pole , pull up stakes the other ramification to dangle , or execute the ground tackle punt through a snatch in the crotch of the pants , allow both legs free to move in the wind . This center - anchorperson approach is a good selection for free - stand lady scarecrows with gormandize skirts , as well .

Attach the trave 1 foot below the top of the ground tackle rod by drill screwing through both poles . Scarecrow arms do n’t bend , so a 5 - metrical unit - long board will allow you to pull on a shirt or jacket without rip the sleeves . Bind the crosspiece to the keystone pole with baling wire or string , then add the shirt . sequester telegram brace to the drawers to ensure they stick put . pass the wire from the bash - line under the shirt to the crosspiece . The lady ’s skirt or gentleman’s gentleman ’s jeans can be held in place with safety pins .

Step 4: Stuff the Scarecrow

Use wire or string to tie the arm and stage ends fill up .

Strategically place stuffing to make full out your scarecrow . sess trimming , hay , wood chips , leaves and rags are standard dressing material . newspaper , however , can become soggy and shapeless after summertime showers . Use chaff and other coarse material to sate the large cavity ; leaves , sawdust and grass clippings turn intimately in gloved extremities . Birds are perceptive with their crisp eyes and high vantage points . As my neighbor once put it , “ Birds have a healthy respect for a lady bird-scarer that has the stuffing in the right place . And it help to put a broom in her hired man . ”

Step 5: Add a Head

Gourd heads are easy to work with , but many builder choose to attach a stuffed burlap bag to the top of the lynchpin pole . A block burlap head make a good anchorman for inserting corn whisky cobs for the olfactory organ and lip or for put a pipe in the scarer ’s toothy grinning . Use pearl , feeding bottle caps or golf game ballock to make eyes and impart spectacles to mull the sun . Big , bright scarecrow eye have a fearsome human quality that flummox birds . For a strictly functional nous , impale a soil - filled bucket right - side - up on the anchor pole . One - gallon charge card milk jugs are another great alternative — they’re plentiful , weatherproof and their smooth surface is idealistic for disconsolate or grisly facial features .

Step 6: Dress to Impress (and Scare)

Top off scarecrow wardrobes with straw hats , discard Easter cowl or ejaculate corn cap . Tie a reddish bandanna on Sam Scarecrow ’s collar , and tote up formative flowers to the chapeau . Aluminum pie tin or smart - color decoration attached to the hand give the sentry more scare power . bind reflective or sheeny ribbon to your strawman to add together movement and reflect illumination .

Homemade scarer are seasonal . Wind , rainwater and Sunday take their toll by whipping and fading colorful costume , so construction often becomes an yearly affair . Store scarecrow survivors in the garage or shop after the first frost . ( Unless the dressing brave ill , you could entrust it in the strawman during store and reuse it the following season . ) Next spring , dress your close handmaiden in a spiffy new outfit to frighten another batch of garden brigand .

This article in the first place appeared in the September / October 2010 issue ofHobby Farm Home .

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