This Viral Dancing Balloon Scarecrow Is a Hilarious Way to Guard Your Garden – and It’s Easy and Cheap to Make

Last week, my editor sent me a link to this absolutely amazing scarecrow on Instagram, and it had me in stitches. The way it dances so groovily but simultaneously looks incredibly angry was by far the funniest thing I had seen all week.

Scarecrows can be an incredibly effective means to keep birds and other animals away from your crops, though, even ones that look as hilarious as this one made from balloons.

I asked a couple of pros why scarecrows like this are ideal to place in open to protect your crops from birds and common animal pests, as well as how to approach making your own from balloons. So long as your scarecrow doesn't float away into the sunset when a gust of wind blows, your plants and seeds will be thanking you.

Why the Balloon Scarecrow Works

Scarecrows come in many shapes and forms, but balloon ones aren't particularly common. Yet, they're actually very effective solution, primarily because the balloons will move around with ease outdoors, alerting pests to keep their distance.

As Angelika Zaber of Online Turf notes: "The scarecrow shown in the video would be particularly effective at scaring unwanted visitors from your garden because balloons are very light. As a result, even the slightest wind will cause it to move unpredictably, mimicking human movement and scaring the birds."

Predictable movements can lead birds or pests to become accustomed to a device designed to scare them away. So the jolty movements of a balloon scarecrow will keep pests on their toes for longer.

Balloons are also incredibly customizable, so you could opt for reflective materials or colors and patterns disliked by certain kinds of birds. These typically include neon or metallic shades – these Moxmay silver balloons are perfect.

How to Make a Balloon Scareceow

Very few tools are needed to make a balloon scarecrow, but each element is vital to success: balloons, string, garden pegs, and, optionally, a Sharpie, available on Amazon, to draw on a face.

The exact amount of balloons you'll need will depend on how large you want your scarecrow to be, so it's best to buy a whole pack to have plenty to work with.

Angelika explains the process:

1. Start by blowing your balloons up, then plan where each one will go to create your structure. I'd personally take a piece of paper and draw out a plan, almost like a stick figure, but covered in circles to represent the balloons.
2. Once this is done, tie them together and finish up by drawing the face on the balloon that’s supposed to be the head. Tie each balloon by its end – the thin part where you knotted the balloon to keep the air trapped inside.
3. The last step is to secure the scarecrow so that it doesn’t fly away. The best thing to use for this is garden pegs, also known as landscaping staples (such as these ones from Amazon). Simply tie your scarecrow to the pegs and add some weight at the base if possible. You can use sandbags (these from Amazon are perfect), bricks, or rocks to help do this. Spare bags of compost could work too if you're in a pinch and yet to go to the store for other supplies!

How to Stop Them Popping

Steve Corcoran of Lawn Love identified the number one thing people need to be aware of if they're planning to add balloon scarecrows to their space: the risk of them popping.

He noted the best way to avoid this happening: "One tip I have is making sure not to blow the balloons up super full. You want to avoid the balloons popping as best as you can, and the fuller they are, the more likely they are to pop."

It's also important to bear in mind what climate you live in, because if it frequently rains or snows, or you're prone to lots of wind, balloon scarecrows may not be the best option for you.

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