I grabbed the Eagleland Extra Large 15’ model a few weeks back and finally got this up today over my multi grafted Hosui Asian Pear tree. I’m very impressed by the quality and the entire piece seems like it’s going to be very durable and last a good while. The mesh is much smaller size than I thought so there should be no chance of small birds getting through or stuck compared to my bird mesh over my blueberries. It also will keep the squirrels off and hopefully any 2 legged creatures trying to eat any of my pears!
The center piece is very nicely machined Aluminum.
It was pretty easy to get together also. Everything basically snapped together and is labeled with easy instructions. Also fully adjustable for width and height.
I think this is an incredibly useful product and ideal for people that grow fruit trees so I’m sharing with you all. If you have birds eating all your fruit and possibly squirrels I’d definitely say to grab one of these to protect your harvests.
I use the tree for a frame and it works fine if you install just before or when the fruit becomes attractive and remove it as soon as you harvest. I tie the net to the trunk of the tree so it’s closed.
You lose a little fruit that presses against the net but larger trees tend to bear a lot of fruit and I don’t mind sharing a little if it saves me the time and expense of a frame. You can also create a frame within the branches by taping pieces of wood or bamboo to the outermost part of branches or have them taped to they push above the canopy in a way that will cause the net to rest on them instead of the ends of branches. I use electric tape for all of this and have had good success for decades.
That’s a neat idea! The best part is you can swap out the netting for shade cloth if you have a plant that’s sensitive to too much sun. It looks very sturdy.
Every time I see something like this, I think why don’t more people opt for something more permanent. I realize that’s not an option for most people esp those with established trees.
I’ve had my greenhouse for 20 years. It solves all my problems with birds, coons, fox, wasps, stink bugs, June beetles, Mexican fruit beetles, freezes, hail, high winds etc etc. If I had them I’m pretty sure it would solve issues with codling moth, OFM, and PC. Top that off with my only pesticide used this year is a once or twice a week spray with water. Plain old water, pretty organic. My cost for 1700 sqft covering about 50 fig plants. 20 stone fruit trees, 8 citrus, 10 mango, 4 grapvines, 4 blueberry, 2 banana, and 150 trees sold for $10K : $1500 per year. And the GH is good for at least another 30 years.
It doesn’t have to be a full out GH. I once had a shelter covered with 1/4 inch hardware cloth. That worked good. I loved it. No birds, no hail damage, no squirrels. A high tunnel could be set up similarly for pest in summer and freezes in spring.
You have the sweetest greenhouse Steve. Oh how I would love a 20x20x18 climate controlled greenhouse here when it gets as hot as an oven and fried every persimmon in the direct sun literally. I don’t have the extra $5-6k annual to pay for the power here. I could imagine a gh that size would cost $20-$30k.
With this frame I’ll be able to shade trees on the south west side easily as @Noname mentioned. That was one of the reasons I wanted it. Eventually I’m planning on putting it over my in ground fig tree for the Silba Adipata (black fig fly) which is here now so this will save the day. So versatile! But yeah I could have had my machinist friend make up something. I the way I’d do it would have costed me more to build it though and the time involved in the shop 200 miles away…
Best $299 I could spend for my trees. I don’t want to grow for the birds. I can break it down and move it over another tree in under 5 minutes. When you have as many blue jays, doves, crows, mocking birds and every other bird in the universe flying around it was a no brainer. Or I could be like some of my cheap friends and eat a handful of fruit each year and cry about the birds stealing them all. Nope.
I also have a pretty strict homeowners rules here so a greenhouse out front isn’t an option. I can put one in the back but as I said above the money just for the greenhouse here in the forgotten state California would be killer. Heck gasoline is still $6.00 a gallon. Nothing is cheap or easy here unless you’re rich.
Yes I have about 12 large umbrellas around the side and the back and have been using them for years with shade cloth on some. There’s no way I can use any to cover this tree without modifying the heck out of one they’re way too small diameter and short. I figured this is more like a plug and play right out of the box that wouldn’t look like a bad Halloween setting lol. Where I live it costs 2-3 tanks of gas or 1-2 regular umbrellas as my local green acres nursery. I think they start at $210 for a small one go up to a couple grand. Umbrellas — Tagged "v::ca" — Green Acres Nursery & Supply
You have to use what you can get. It’s good that you found a solution! I’ve been using plastic deer netting for our garden and orchard fence because it was all we could afford. It keeps out the deer and deters rabbits and groundhogs. Sometimes a critter will get in and nibble, but nothing serious has happened to the plants since we fenced them in. It’s imperfect, but it works.
Hi Jack and welcome to the forum. Agreed this frame reminds me of a lightweight fishing pole but even pieced together at 15 feet and the bird netting on it’s still got a little weight to it. There’s no way I’d try using a modified umbrella this big because be afraid it could harm the tree and it would be so awkward to move around.
I admire your greenhouse and production, but my answer to your question at least as it pertains to me is that it takes up front planning and commitment.
My time and attention for my home orchard hobby comes in fits and spurts.
Plus my property topography is irregular and my 100 or so trees are spread all around.
I don’t want to grow for the birds. I can break it down and move it over another tree in under 5 minutes. When you have as many blue jays, doves, crows, mocking birds and every other bird in the universe flying around it was a no brainer. Or I could be like some of my cheap friends and eat a handful of fruit each year and cry about the birds stealing them all. Nope.