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Home » Backyard Nurseries » DIY Fruit Tree Netting

DIY Fruit Tree Netting

Updated : October 15, 2014

19 Comments

How To Net Your Small Fruit Trees and Bushes

If you want to keep more berries and fruits for yourself here’s an easy way to cover your fruiting plants. You can always leave one bush uncovered to feed the birds!

You will find that this fruit tree netting helps protect the leaves on your plant from insects as well as protecting the fruit.

Step One: Gather the Supplies Needed:Fruit tree netting 1 A bolt of Tulle Fabric, clips of your choice and a pair of scissors.

Tulle fabric can be easily found at your local fabric store.

Step Two: Drape the netting over your bush until you have covered the area that you want covered.

Fruit tree netting 2

Step Three: Cut your netting from the bolt.

Fruit tree netting 3

Step Four: Use your clip of choice to secure the netting.

Fruit tree netting 4

Sometimes you can get away with just leaving the drape on without any clips.

If you find that your bush does not “grab” the netting and it is not behaving itself then use your clips to weight and hold it down.

You can leave some small openings for any pollinators you might want to access your bushes but you really don’t have to worry too much about it as they will find a way in!

When you are needing to pick berries or check on anything just open up a section or you can also just reach up from underneath.

Step Five: When the season is over carefully remove your netting and fold for next year.

Fruit tree netting 5You may find that it has faded from the sun and heat but depending on where you are located you may be able to reuse this netting for multiple seasons

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Comments

  1. Tony C says

    November 18, 2015 at 4:48 am

    Hi Mike, will your hot pepper spray keep slugs and snails away?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      November 18, 2015 at 7:10 am

      Tony,

      That’s a good question. When it’s first applied I’d say it probably would. But as it fades, probably not.

      Reply
  2. Steve says

    October 18, 2014 at 8:37 pm

    Hi Mike. Thanks for the tulle idea…good for birds and bugs. Any ideas to keep squirrels from eating my pears? They would chew right through the tulle. Thanks, Steve

    Reply
    • Bill Wilson says

      October 19, 2014 at 4:14 pm

      Use a hot pepper spray made made from hot sauce and diluted with water. Make one with the hottest peppers you can find. once the squirrels or deer taste the hot pepper they will leave it alone. You will have to re-spray after rain. Will not hurt the fruit , I have to do this on vegetables when transplanted and it doesn’t take long for the squirrels to look for another food source.

      Reply
  3. Maureen says

    October 17, 2014 at 11:45 pm

    Is this done in the Spring when the trees start to leaf out?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      October 18, 2014 at 7:38 am

      Maureen,

      The fruit trees don’t have to be netted until the fruit is ready to ripen. Netting them in early spring might disturb the new branches as they grow.

      Reply
  4. Lucien Hamernik says

    October 17, 2014 at 5:55 pm

    Lots of good information. Which netting would be best for me to use to keep deer from eating my climbing(runner) green beans and still let in enough sunlight for optimal growth and production. A six foot high cattle panel would be the support.
    Thanks.

    Reply
  5. Charline Jolly says

    October 17, 2014 at 3:29 pm

    I have used black “Strawberry Netting” for years. Keeps the birds and deer off, and can be used over and over. It is less conspicuous then the tulle.

    Reply
    • Cynthia says

      October 31, 2014 at 10:42 pm

      if you use green or brown tulle you can barely see it. The thing I like about using tulle is that it does not catch on the branches like other netting and make it so hard to get on and off.

      Reply
  6. Monica Huddleson says

    October 17, 2014 at 1:08 pm

    Hi Mike,
    This is a great idea–will give it a try next spring.

    Now, I have a problem that might be one for quite a few people–It was so dry for awhile this summer that my grass kind of went down, then we started getting rain and morn rain, etc. and the creeping charlie recovered much faster than my grass and as a result my yard is overgrown in creeping charlie! Do you have a full-proof method of getting rid of this menace that won’t also hurt the frogs and toads I have in my yard. Please help!!

    Monica

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      October 17, 2014 at 1:29 pm

      Hi Monica! We have a segment on Hot To Get Rid of Creeping Charlie coming up! Stay tuned!

      Reply
      • dee says

        October 17, 2014 at 7:38 pm

        we have been spraying white vinegar on it- .2 gallons at sam’s is a minimal cost and it helps on light invasions.^-^

        Reply
    • Alan says

      October 17, 2014 at 11:12 pm

      Spray vinegar on a sunny day and watch Charlie die. Also any D-4 weed killer will work, sometimes have to repeat.

      Reply
    • Anonymous says

      October 21, 2014 at 9:00 pm

      I need to find something to get rid of these pest. Can’t cover my two lg pecan trees.

      Reply
  7. Michelle Schaapveld says

    October 17, 2014 at 1:06 pm

    We had a major problem this past spring with our cherry tree.. Once we harvested and pitted the cherries we found maggots inside the cherries. Will the tulle prevent flys from infesting the fruit? We haven’t ever sprayed any of our gardens or trees. I tried the tulle on the raspberries but somehow the japanese beetles got inside and really had a heyday!

    Reply
    • Alan says

      October 17, 2014 at 11:08 pm

      The Tulle is for the birds, not beetles. Also not for cherry fly maggots. Spray chemicals or learn to enjoy the protein in the cherries.

      Reply
      • Crescendo of Peace says

        March 21, 2015 at 2:34 am

        You can spray (in solution) or dust with either food grade diatomaceous earth (don’t use pool grade, as it has added chemicals) or bentonite clay.

        Either one will deter any and all flying insects, as well as deer and rabbits, and yet easily wash off fruit or vegetables prior to eating.

        You will have to reapply after heavy rains.

        This is a solution that is chemical-free and acceptable for even certified organic growers. Far better – and healthier – than relying on chemicals.

        Reply
  8. kent jardine says

    October 17, 2014 at 1:02 pm

    Excellent

    Reply
  9. Lori Martin says

    October 17, 2014 at 1:01 pm

    I love this idea! That commercial netting is such a hassle and is never big enough for my trees!

    Reply

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