Protective netting systems

[Eme]

I don’t see a general thread for building netting systems over anything. Please move this if there is and I missed it. I know there are a lot of DIY netting suggestions in all the threads, but thought a localized place would be a lot easier. Please post your creative netting solutions.

I am in need of a good netted structure for my raspberries. I am planning on using a concept I saw in a fruit tree protection video: 3/4” conduit on either side of the row with 1/2” pvc arc at the top and fed into each side. I used to protect my veg gardens with the 1/2” arced over and attached to the sides, so I have a lot laying around. I need to put a bolt of some sort through to stop it the pvc from sliding down (if they slide?) and then will net over it all. The goal is to make a structure that leaves enough room for everything to grow and is easier for me to get int and stand up underneath.

[dannytoro1]

Indeed. This year the good crop of blueberries literally went to the birds. Definitely will be interested how netting and crop protecting tactics are working for everyone.

[ukie]

I’ll comment on net selection.

My recommendation is a woven polyethylene (PE) net with a 3/8-inch mesh. 3/8-inch mesh is stronger than 1-inch mesh and it goes nicely on any tree structure, it doesn’t tangle much with branches. It stretches well, making it easy to put on and take off.

You can tie knots to secure it, and they’re easy to untie when it’s time to remove the net. Overall, I’ve found this type of net much easier to work with than other options.

Amazon sells them, some nets of this type are advertised as pool leaf covers.

I usually go with 30’x30’ size for cover entire tree with a single net.

Some of my older posts on this topic:

Stopping robins from eating my bush cherries

Get a 30’x30’ net to cover entire tree. I really like pe (polyethylene) woven netting. It stretches nicely, is easy to put and remove. You’ll need one or two helpers to put net over a tree. Some nets of this type are advertised as pool leaf covers. Check Amazon for some options., unfortunately nets I got from Amazon this year are no longer available in 30x30 size. [IMG_5147] [IMG_4735]

Do you guys net your peach trees?

I use paint roller with extension rod to lift net over the tree. Here’s my apples trees pruned to open center covered by 30’x30’ net. I tie bottom net corners around the trunk. To take net off, I do everything in reverse. If I have small twigs growing through net, I cut them from the inside canopy prior to taking net down. [IMG_9878] [IMG_9882] [IMG_9879]

Netting Fruit Trees

I’m experimenting this year with using “net sleeves” on some of my trees instead of netting the entire tree - for example, young apple and pear trees with scattered fruit. I just cut a generous strip of netting (it stretches quite a bit), knot one end, cover the fruit I want to protect, wrap the other end around a branch and secure it with a knot, then use clothespins to close the open edge. It seems simple enough and easy to do, especially on lower-hanging branches. [IMG_3487] [IMG_3493] …

[Eme]

Excellent thank you so much for grouping them all here.

[Joao]

Good idea for a thread. I lost most of my blueberries to blackbirds last year and finally rigged up a PVC frame with 3/4 inch mesh this season. Held up well so far, the key for me was making sure the net sits away from the fruit rather than draping directly on the bush. Birds just peck through anything that touches.

[Fishsauce]

My berries protective system. Bottom 4 ft is covered with hardware cloth, top half and the top are covered with cheap bird nettings. It has protected my raspberries for 2 years now and hopefully will do the same for the blueberries when they fruit. Will also trial some strawberries under the blueberry plants in the near future.

[danzeb]

Here is a crude one that is easy to setup and remove. Uses t-posts, 1/2 inch PVC and zip ties.. Height is adjustable with arched PVC top.

[benthegirl]

When driving to a friend’s house I’ve often passed Rocky Point Blueberry Farm in RI. I used to be confused by the extensive netting over the whole thing:

Not anymore!

[Barb]

DannyToro, I’ve getting up and going out between 6:30 and 7am to pick so that I can beat the birds. I’m out there in a tee shirt nighty, but my neighbors can’t see me! I’ve found it to actually be much more pleasant to pick at that time of day. It’s still cool and the bugs aren’t as bad as I would have thought. The birds arrive and scream at me from surrounding trees–grackles and blue jays mostly. I’m thinking that Eme’s setup might be a great solution. I have forty blueberry bushes with ten or so in other locations, but the main bushes are probably about ten shrubs in each of three rows. Others are around the fence to the vegetable garden and by the driveway between my neighbor and me.

When I first planted them, I tried using that bird netting that has one inch or so squares, sort of like a badminton net. I took it off because the birds were able to get in underneath and then get trapped or twisted in the netting. it was awful and made picking very difficult, too.