By Primroseka
Shropshire,
United Kingdom 
My mother has a problem with blackbirds digging up all her saxifraga this happens wherever she plants them, the blackbirds seem to leave every other plant alone does anybody know if there is a reason for this or just a coincidence Thank you
23 Jan, 2014
Answers
They are also looking for bugs and the mossy saxifrages are a wonderful attraction to them. It is just what they do and we have to live with it!
23 Jan, 2014
do you think if you put some cheap apples down would they go for them instead just try a couple see if it helps
23 Jan, 2014
Worth a try I suppose but doubt it will work Snoopy - nice live tasty bug or apple… hum!
23 Jan, 2014
Never mind the mossy saxifrages, they dig up the Silvers and the Sempervivums too. They are after woodlice which live under the plants.
23 Jan, 2014
Only way we have managed to keep the plants whole is to cover them with wire netting. Sorry.
23 Jan, 2014
They dig up huge amounts of plant Owdb…
23 Jan, 2014
Other idea is to turn over one of those wire hanging baskets over the plant. We have done that with them to allow them to get established.
24 Jan, 2014
They completely removed the tops of a 40-set of small garden lights I had several years ago (they were only 6 inches tall, shaped like lamp posts) - I think they thought they were snails. I used to watch them do it from the window!
24 Jan, 2014
thanks for the comments folks, will pass these all on and see if they work
26 Jan, 2014
Blackbirds are probably one of the earliest birds to begin nesting.
They love mossy saxifrage for that purpose. I'm afraid that it's something that one has to put up with.
Ain't nature wonderful?
23 Jan, 2014