Question: Birds are devouring my plums just as they ripen. Can I use any kind of spray to repel them?

Answer: There are tree nettings you can drape over peach and plum trees to keep the birds from having access to the fruit. Take them off as you harvest the fruit and store them for another year. Otherwise you’re going to have to resort to noise makers or things that have movement to scare the birds away. Those are frustrating ways to accomplish the task. You should never pick the fruit before it’s ripe, however. Unlike tomatoes and even pears, which will continue to ripen indoors, peaches and plums will ripen no more once they have been harvested.