How to protect fruit and vegetables from Birds.
Birds can be a real problem in the garden especially in orchards at fruiting time and when new seed is planted for lawns and such, so what are the effective methods of protecting the fruit on the trees or scaring birds away.
The most widely used method is Bird Netting, it is reasonably effective and is widely used in commercial orchards to keep birds away from fruit crops. Bird Netting is placed over fruit trees to stop access to ripening fruit.
Bird Netting Weights and Sizes
Coming in different meshes and weights for different applications, this type of netting is used in viticulture, fruit production and other food crop industries.
Netting comes in large rolls for commercial application or as cut to length pieces for individual fruit trees and smaller orchards.
Larger rolls are used in commercial applications where large areas such as apple orchards are totally covered.
Large rolls can also use to cover animal enclosures and some home vegetable gardens.
Bird Netting Types
- Structural Bird Netting
This is a heavier type designed for more permanent covering of larger structures. Available in widths up to 15m to suit structural use. - Vine Netting (throw over)
A lighter weight type of netting suitable for throw over application for vine and berry fruit. Available in long lengths to suit use in vine yards - Lightweight
Useful for home gardeners, lighter weight for easy use. - Throw Over Netting
The simple ‘throw over the tree’ method is available in a number of colours including black, with white seeming to be the most popular. Larger trees may be covered more easily by using 2 – 3 pieces and clipping together.
Bag Type Bird Netting
- Mesh bags for the protection of fruit are an alternative to netting a whole tree. You can either make up your own from bird netting or you can buy the bags in packs from hardware stores or online.
- Draw string type bags come in a range of sizes to fit different fruit trees and are easy to use. These bags are usually reusable and can also be used to protect the forming fruit on pomegranates and native citrus tree.
- Fruit protection bags differ a little in that they are designed to protect fruit from fruit fly and other insects as well as from sunburn. They also act as a a deterrent to and provide some protection from birds.
It is best to look for UV stabilised netting longer lasting properties. For netting used larger structural applications heavier GSM is available in rolls to 15m wide.
Accessories include
- Post caps to prevent material being worn or cut on rough surfaces.
- Clips to allow nets to be secured around irregular shapes.
- Repair or lacing cord to join netting or repair damaged nets.
Other fruit protection methods – Bird Scarers
Bird scarers work differently and come in a range of types, all with merits depending on application.
Infra red Bird scares work in a number of ways, one particular type works by detecting birds through the use of infra red detection sensors and thus activating a short high pressure burst of water from a sprinkler, this system works on batteries.
Bird Tape or Humming Line
Humming line is strung through orchards, it vibrates in the wind and produces a sound that will help deter or scare birds.
Visual Bird Scarers
Hawks, Cats, Eagles and other predators are replicated in model or cut out form and act a visual deterrent or scarer
Infra Red Bird Scarers
Activated by motion, infra red bird scarers either emit sound, or a burst of water that is designed to scare birds away.
Bird Scarers, Bird Repellent and Bird Netting are all widely used in the garden and include devices such Hawk Bird Scares, Humming Lines, Infra red bird scarers, Bird Netting, Gas Guns and Electronic Bird Scarers.
Humane Bird Deterrents all work by providing an unpleasant experience for the bird and deterring or scaring it from coming back to fruiting trees, newly planted lawns etc.
Contact your local RSPCA for advice on protecting plants from both domestic and native birds. The aim is to have a peaceful co existence between food crops, horticultural production and birds.
Choose the right size Netting
Netting Size is designed to exclude different things. Birds and butterflies are prime examples. Butterfly netting is usual a finer mesh, bird netting larger..
Net Size is important when applying to fruiting crops. It is usually bird netting we are applying to fruit crops such as strawberry, raspberries and many fruiting trees. This means a mess size of 5mm and larger.
Small or fine mesh, such as 4 mm can also stop polinators, such as bees, so your harvest can be decreased. It does not have a major effect on wind pollination.
When to apply netting
You can apply netting after flowering, however some crops are still producing flowers after the first fruit has formed, So again, choosing the right netting is the real answer.