What has become of scarecrows in the garden?

This Fall, the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris County, NJ created a scarecrow display throughout the arboretum grounds. This was fun and interesting and got me thinking about scarecrows in the garden. Are scarecrows still used? If so, how are they used? Thus, began my research.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Background of scarecrows in the garden

First, I went to the arboretum and took a tour of the many different scarecrows on display. Along with the scarecrows, there were bits of ‘scarecrow history’. For example, did you know that scarecrows have been around for more than 3000 years? Egyptians first used scarecrows to protect their wheat fields along the Nile River. Around 2500 B.C., Greeks carved wooden scarecrows in the image of Greek Gods to scare away birds. Meanwhile, in medieval Britain, young boys and girls would patrol the farm fields and scare away birds by waving their arms and throwing rocks. Lastly, in America, the Pilgrims and Indians protected their fields by camping out and scaring off unwanted birds and animals.

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Scarecrows in the garden reached their height of popularity in America around WWII. Of course, the most popular American scarecrow was the ‘scarecrow’ from the Wizard of Oz. He walked along the yellow brick road with Dorothy in search of a brain. This certainly, cemented an image in my mind of what a quintessential scarecrow should look like.

Scarecrows today

So, how are scarecrows used today? Well, after WWII, synthetic pesticides took over as the preferred treatment against pests in the garden. Today, many farmers and gardeners have realized the detriment to the environment that these synthetic pesticides cause. Newer methods to deter birds and animals have taken shape including:

• Smelly garden sprays
• The use of noise and motion such as windchimes and spinners
• Motion activated water sprays
• Digital scarecrow with infrared sensors that scare away animals
• Use of nylon netting and cloth in the garden to deter pests

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In some parts of the world, the traditional scarecrow is still in use. However, scarecrows have mostly morphed into an Autumn decoration. The familiar straw-stuffed scarecrow adorns many front porches and sits comfortably among the pumpkins and mums. In addition, I was surprised to learn about the number of contests and displays of scarecrows in the Fall. If you are looking for a fun activity in the fall, check out local arboretums, gardens, and farms to see whether a scarecrow in the garden display exists.

Hope you enjoyed a little bit of history about scarecrows in the garden.

Here are a few posts that may be of further interest.

• Managing garden pests with an integrated approach
• Install a solar-powered fence to keep groundhogs out of the garden
• Using cover crops in the home garden
• Companion planting for pest management in the vegetable garden