Garden netting is an effective, non-chemical method for protecting crops from pests and adverse weather. This physical barrier prevents insects, birds, and other animals from accessing vulnerable plants while allowing light, air, and water to pass through. Effective use requires matching the right product to the specific need and employing proper installation techniques. Selecting the correct mesh size and managing the cover throughout the season ensures a successful harvest.
Selecting Netting Based on Target Threat
Selecting the correct netting is the first step toward effective pest management, as the mesh size determines which organisms can be physically excluded. For airborne insect pests like the cabbage white butterfly, flea beetles, or carrot rust fly, fine insect exclusion netting is necessary. This mesh typically features openings around 0.27 x 0.77 millimeters (40 to 50-mesh), which is fine enough to block tiny garden invaders like thrips and aphids.
Protecting ripening fruit from larger animals like birds or deer requires a much coarser material. Standard bird netting often has mesh openings in the range of 17 to 20 millimeters. This size is sufficient to deter avian pests without trapping them and allows beneficial insects, such as bees, to pass through freely for pollination.
Shade cloth is a different category, used to mitigate environmental stress by protecting plants from intense sun and heat. A 30 to 50 percent shade density is appropriate for heat-sensitive vegetables like lettuce and spinach. Physical support netting provides a vertical structure for climbing plants like peas, cucumbers, and pole beans, aiding in space management.
Installation Methods for Protective Netting
Proper installation is necessary to ensure a complete physical seal against pests. The most common method is using netting as a floating row cover, draped directly over low-growing, non-fragile crops. When using this technique, leave enough slack in the material to allow for unimpeded plant growth and expansion throughout the season.
For taller plants or to prevent the netting from resting directly on the foliage, the material should be supported by a simple framework. This framework usually consists of flexible hoops made from wire or PVC piping, creating a low tunnel that keeps the fabric elevated. For both floating and supported covers, the edges must be completely sealed to the ground using soil, landscape staples, or heavy objects like boards and rocks. Any gap acts as an entry point, allowing crawling pests or larger insects to breach the barrier.
For crops requiring greater height, such as peppers or broccoli, a more rigid framed enclosure is necessary. These structures are often constructed using wood or PVC piping to create a box-like structure. This frame allows the netting to be attached securely to the sides and top, providing easy access via clips or hinges for harvesting and maintenance. When assembling any supporting structure, ensure the netting is pulled taut enough to resist wind damage but not so tight that it strains the fabric or the plants underneath. Vertical trellising uses a separate type of netting installed as a permanent wall structure to guide vines upward, maximizing air circulation.
Managing Netting During the Growing Season
A primary consideration when using netting is the need for pollination, which requires careful management of the barrier material. For insect-pollinated crops, such as squash, cucumbers, melons, and strawberries, the fine mesh netting must be temporarily removed during the flowering period. Leaving the barrier on prevents beneficial insects from accessing the blooms, leading to poor fruit set.
Fine netting can be installed early in the season to protect seedlings and then removed once flowering begins. For wind-pollinated crops, such as corn or most leafy greens and brassicas, the insect netting can remain in place for the entire growing cycle. Bird netting, conversely, is often installed later in the season once the fruit has set and is beginning to ripen, protecting it from avian damage.
Regular inspection of the netting is necessary to maintain its effectiveness. Periodically check for any tears or holes that could allow pests to enter, making immediate repairs with a patch or durable tape. Ensure the edges remain securely anchored to the ground, especially after heavy rain or strong winds. At the end of the season, cleaning the netting and storing it away from direct sunlight will extend its usable life, as UV exposure causes the material to degrade.