Don't Wing It - Shield Seedlings with Bird Control Nets

For home gardeners and small farm owners, few things are more frustrating than nurting seedlings to fruition only to have birds swoop in and destroy parts of your hard work. Birds can wreak havoc on crops, decimating flowering plants, plucking ripening stone fruits, or digging up newly planted seeds.

Bird netting offers an affordable and effective solution for protecting crops during vulnerable periods. When properly installed over seedlings, plants, or fruit trees, the durable mesh forms a protective barrier that deters birds from helping themselves to your bounty.

When Bird Activity Becomes a Problem

Many species of birds can pose issues for gardeners and farmers. Starlings, crows, grackles, sparrows, and other birds are drawn to the fruiting and flowering plants we carefully cultivate.

Crops Susceptible to Bird Damage

The types of crops vulnerable to bird damage include:

• Berries - Raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries
• Stone fruits - Cherries, plums, peaches
• Vining crops - Grapes, kiwi
• Orchard fruits - Apples, pears
• Grains - Corn, wheat, rice
• Others - Tomatoes, lettuce, brassicas

Birds can pick ripening fruit clean off bushes and trees. They dig up newly planted corn and rice seedlings to get to seeds. They'll nibble lettuce right to the stem and peck perfectly round holes in tomato skins.

When Crops Are Most Vulnerable

There are key developmental phases where crops become irresistible bird magnets:

• Flowering stage - Nectar attracts birds who damage tender reproductive parts
• Fruiting/ripening - Sugars develop as fruit ripens, signaling birds to feast
• Following planting - Birds dig up seeds and seedlings for food

By anticipating when crops are most vulnerable, we can preemptively install protective netting to safeguard them during these critical periods.

Types of Bird Damage

Frustratingly, birds can damage crops in many ways:

• Removal of ripening fruits - Having one or two berries nibbled per plant can quickly scale to entire rows being stripped bare.
• Digging up newly planted seeds and seedlings - Birds foraging underground devastate newly sown beds.
• Destruction of flowering parts - Damaging blossoms and pollen producers compromises fruit production.

A single bird attack can make all your careful cultivation for naught. With one season's crops destroyed, recovering losses takes seasons more. Guard tender new plantings against such costly damage.

Choosing the Right Bird Netting

An array of bird netting options exists to suit different gardening needs. Considerations when selecting netting include:

Material

HDPE, nylon, and polypropylene nettings have different durability and longevity:

• High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
  • Lowest cost option
  • Withstands weather and sun exposure
  • Can degrade over 1-2 seasons
• Nylon
  • Very durable
  • Withstands wind, weather, and UV rays
  • Higher initial investment
  • Can last over 5 years with proper care
• Polypropylene
  • Mid-range cost
  • Resists weathering well over 2-3 years

Mesh Size

The ideal mesh size depends on the bird species plaguing your patch:

• 1/2" mesh - Excludes sparrows
• 3/4" mesh - Deters blackbirds, starlings, grackles
• 1" mesh - Also keeps out crows

Small mesh nets help deter tiny birds from entry. However, the finest mesh can reduce airflow and light penetration that plants need.

Durability Features

Seeking out nets with longevity boosting properties prevents frequent replacements:

• UV-resistance - Critical for multi-year crop protection usefulness
• Reinforced edges - Prevent premature fraying and tears
• Premium construction - Tight, uniform weaves maintain integrity longest

Prioritizing durability does necessitate higher upfront investment. But the years of expanded usefulness justify costs for guarding valuable berry patches, vineyards, and orchards.

Measuring Your Planting Area

To determine how much bird netting you need, assessing planting area dimensions is key. Measurements to note include:

• Length and width spans
• Maximum height
• Allowances for enclosing buffer zone

Having a few extra feet of netting to secure bury edges for entry proofing is wise. Comparing canopy coverage, support structure areas against netting roll dimensions simplifies purchasing.

Overhead Clearance

allow overhead space between netting and crops for airflow and growth. Recommended clearance guidelines are:

• 12-24" for berries and vining crops
• 3-6 feet for fruit trees

Providing ample overhead room prevents net contact with crops even after rain and wind blew netting downward.

Installation Techniques and Hardware

To best deter bird intrusions, tidy installations minimize gaps for entry. Essential setup steps include:

Structural Supports

Structures like trellises, stakes and poles elevate netting over rather than directly on crops. Support options:

• Wooden poles
• Metal or plastic stakes
• Trellises
• Vegetable cages
• Overhead support wires

Securing the Netting

Secure edges tightly to structural supports using:

• Zip ties
• Net clips
• Twist ties

Bury edges underground where possible. Anchor loose edges down with landscape staples or U-shaped garden pins.

Access Points

Incorporate zippered entryways for garden access without entirely removing netting. Place gates on sides rather than over the top of crops.

Protection Through the Seasons

When to Install Bird Netting

Set protection in place before mature crops get birds salivating. Well-timed installation includes:

• Just before flowering stage
• As fruits enter ripening phase
• Immediately after seeding beds or transplanting starts

Once birds form feeding patterns and territories amongst mature crops, excluding them becomes harder.

Maintaining Nets

Regular net inspections preserve protectiveness. Check for and promptly address:

• Holes from bird beaks
• Spike punctures
• UV deterioration
• Tears from weather or poor storage

Patch small holes. Mend tears with net patch kits. Replace extensively damaged sections immediately.

Off-Season Storage

End-of-season care ensures longevity across years:

• Dislodge debris with hose or blower
• Let air dry thoroughly before folding
• Keep away from pests in covered bin

Improperly stored nets age prematurely from moisture, insects, UV light, and rodents. Handle carefully to maximize usefulness across many seasons.

Additional Considerations

Supplementary techniques further discourage bird feeding frenzies:

• Use decoy predators like hawk kites or owl statues
• Incorporate reflective ribbons, discs, or tape
• Promptly remove windfall fruits hiding beneath plants
• Use noisemakers triggered by movement
• Rotate crop planting sites year-to-year
• Collaborate with Audubon societies on humane practices

Integrating deterrents with protective coverage engenders a robust anti-bird scheme.

Bird netting delivers an affordable physical barrier deterring crop damage from winged thieves. Tailoring installation to Shin prior to fruiting and ripening phases curtails costly losses.

Guard your investments of time, money and labor against seasonal bird attacks. Don't wing it - shield seedlings and maturing plantings with protective netting!