Homegrown blueberries are prized for their flavor and nutritional value. Cultivating these bushes successfully culminates in a harvest that many gardeners anticipate. However, the sweet, ripe fruit is attractive to local wildlife, presenting a consistent challenge to growers. Protecting the crop from animal intrusion is necessary to ensure a bountiful yield.
Identifying the Common Pests
The first step in effective protection is identifying the animal responsible for the damage, as strategies differ widely based on the culprit’s size and behavior. Pests generally fall into two main categories: aerial and ground-level threats.
Aerial pests, primarily various species of birds, represent the most common threat to ripening blueberries. Birds often strip entire bushes quickly, leaving behind characteristic peck marks. Ground pests include larger mammals like deer and rabbits, and smaller climbers such as squirrels and raccoons. Deer typically browse on the leaves and stems of higher bushes, while rabbits and squirrels consume berries closer to the ground. Evidence of ground animals may include tracks, chewed bark, or partially eaten fruit.
Exclusion: Using Netting and Cages
Physical exclusion is the most effective method for protecting blueberry bushes from birds and small climbing mammals. This involves creating a physical barrier to deny access to the ripening fruit. The net material should be a durable, UV-protected plastic mesh to withstand the elements.
The choice of mesh size is important. A 3/4-inch opening is standard, although a 1/4-inch mesh is more effective at preventing smaller birds from reaching through the net. Nets should never be draped directly over the bushes, as this allows birds to feed through the mesh where it touches the fruit.
Instead, a supportive frame must be constructed using materials like PVC pipe, metal conduit, or bamboo poles to create a rigid, tent-like structure over the plants. This frame ensures the netting is suspended several inches away from the outermost foliage, preventing contact with the fruit. Proper installation requires securing the netting completely around the base of the structure, either by burying the edges or anchoring them firmly to the ground. Installation must occur before the berries begin to turn blue, as birds quickly target the first signs of ripening fruit.
Perimeter Control: Fencing and Barriers for Large Animals
Protecting blueberries from larger ground animals like deer requires establishing a robust perimeter barrier around the entire planting area. Deer are capable of jumping significant heights, meaning a standard four-foot garden fence is ineffective. To deter deer reliably, a fence must be at least seven to eight feet tall.
Deer’s ability to jump is compromised by poor depth perception, which can be exploited by certain fence designs. An eight-foot fence constructed of woven wire or plastic mesh is an effective, permanent solution. Alternatively, a double-row fence consisting of two parallel four-foot fences spaced about four to five feet apart can confuse the deer’s visual perception and prevent them from attempting the jump.
Rabbits and similar burrowing animals require a ground-level barrier. A barrier made of galvanized hardware cloth or chicken wire should be installed vertically around the perimeter. This wire needs to be secured and buried into the ground a minimum of six inches, with an additional four to six inches bent outward into an L-shape beneath the soil surface. This buried flange prevents rabbits from digging under the fence.
Non-Physical Deterrents
Methods that do not involve physical barriers can provide supplementary protection. These deterrents rely on engaging the animal’s senses through taste, scent, or visual disturbance.
Taste- and scent-based commercial repellents often contain active ingredients like capsaicin or putrescent egg solids, which make the treated foliage and fruit unappealing. These products are applied as a spray and require frequent reapplication, especially after rain or irrigation, as they wash away easily. Predator urine or sulfur-based granules can also be placed around the base of the bushes to deter ground animals via scent.
Visual and sound deterrents work by creating an environment that feels unsafe or unpredictable. Reflective materials, such as metallic streamers or holographic tape, move in the wind and flash light, which can startle birds. Scarecrows or plastic predator replicas must be moved every few days to prevent birds from becoming accustomed to the stationary object. Successful non-physical strategies often involve a combination of visual and auditory elements that are frequently changed or rotated.