CDs worked for me on blueberries but only for a week or two so now I use netting. Bagging works for larger fruit.
I’ve tried shade cloth. Spent a few hundred dollars on a big piece. It did keep the birds off. Easy to put on and take off too.
I didn’t like how the peaches didn’t color as well, weren’t as sweet, and ripened later.
I bagged up in a trash bag and now it’s just another thing to take up space.
I was thinking the same thing.
catbirds and robins are the worst. I rarely see a catbird around here until cherries start ripening. My friend has a full sized bing cherry thats probably 25 feet tall. The catbirds will sit up top gorging themselves while we pick cherries on the low hanging branches.
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I’ve used the 30% woven black polypropylene shade cloth for more than 30 yrs both for bird and hail protection. It is very durable. The pieces pictured below were purchased in the late 70s. I keep finding new crops to protect so they are moved most yrs.
I’ve also used it as shade cloth over my greenhouse at times.
Below: In fore gound over melons for hail. In backgound over grapes for birds and hail.
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We do have hawks somewhere around here. I wish they’d get busy.
Fruitnut,
Would recommend any particular brand or company for it?
that is some setup there, my friend.
Many places sell it. You can get custom sizes sewn to your specs as per the edges and grommet spacing. The Greenhouse Mega Store is the first place I’d look.
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This is what I used to have for blueberries, but it’s now full
of fig trees. It stays up year round, and it’s American
Nettings. Cheap is not the way to go. This has been up
for six years, with the original netting.
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I have done a lot of netting over the years, but its a lot of work on larger trees (I still net my berries though).
I have had very good luck the last few years with scare tape. Get a couple rolls of the red/silver stuff and hang a long strip (2-3’) every few feet. Hang it up right BEFORE fruit color up, and take down RIGHT after harvest is complete - you want it up before they taste and get excited about whats there, and you want it down before they get used to it. I have found this to be the key to getting good protection.
It does depend a lot on the type of bird, how hungry they are, kind of fruit, etc, so the scare tape even if used perfectly may not work. But, its super easy to use and I would give it a try. I also used CDs and the scare tape is a similar idea but has been a notch more effective - it makes a more intimidating “wall”.
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I wholeheartedly agree, I have been using a slightly different scare technique though. I have been using the shinny pinwheels taped up to the top of the trees.
I find the timing of taping them up and taking them down to be extremely important.
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Scare tape, pinwheels, and good timing … couldn’t hurt.
Thanks to Scott and Pointers.
Look for 108 inch when wanting 9 ft. wide tulle. I agree about the long and narrow aspect of the 54" type. I’ve used it for grape and berry rows; I’m just starting to plant trees. The birds around here are not very aggressive (yet?) but as my orchard becomes more prolific word may get out. There is such an abundance of fruit, nuts, berries, etc., here, both natural and cultivated that I’m not sure I’ll have to deal with major critter pressure…I’m not sure.
Thanks, Fruitnut.
I will try scare tape on my cherries this year first. I have a net but it is a pain when spraying.
Mulberries produce quickly in this area 2-4 years. Typically my mulberries are 20’-30’ tall and 15’ wide. Plant them close to the other fruit. I’ve not noticed tons of bird poop but once in awhile if a bird nests or roosts close by there can be a bunch. The idea is I give the birds plenty to eat and I get to enjoy the birds instead of hate them for stealing.
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Thanks for your patience. Sounds like a plan.
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For those of you who are interested in the durability and ease of use of shade cloth but worry about too much shade, Greenhouse Megastore offers both a 12’ wide 22% white shade cloth and a 26’ wide white anti-hail netting (which they estimate at 13% to 15% shade). Because it diffuses light, white is also supposed to improve photosynthetic efficiency. Here’s a very interesting study on the effects of varying shade cloth color and percentage on a variety of plants, including quite a few fruits:
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I am not endorsing this product because I have never tried it… but it seems like an intriguing concept for both birds and bugs.