Best netting?

[Tusty]

Hi all. Looking to get some good netting to protect cabbages etc from butterflies etc. any recommendations?


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[andy_j]

I use green scaffolding or debris netting. Whatever you use, make sure the holes are small enough to stop butteflies and caterpillas getting in !!!!!

[Nicos]

All sorts of netting concern me having had to release on several occasions blackbirds either stuck underneath it or got their feet entwined in the fine mesh.
Same thing can happen with hedgehogs too.

Having said that, we tend to use environmesh or Very fine net curtains ( from Ikea!) which prevents butterflies from laying through the mesh where it touches the leaves.
Because they are so fine, it seems to reduce the black fly probs too.
Oh...and weeds like bindweed can't get a grip on it.

Always check out for trapped animals,birds ...and of course butterflies which can still somehow get in....and then have a field day cos they can't get out!

I don't think there's a perfect answer to be honest...just trial and error as to what best suits you.

[Tusty]

All sorts of netting concern me having had to release on several occasions blackbirds either stuck underneath it or got their feet entwined in the fine mesh.
Same thing can happen with hedgehogs too.

Having said that, we tend to use environmesh or Very fine net curtains ( from Ikea!) which prevents butterflies from laying through the mesh where it touches the leaves.
Because they are so fine, it seems to reduce the black fly probs too.
Oh...and weeds like bindweed can't get a grip on it.

Always check out for trapped animals,birds ...and of course butterflies which can still somehow get in....and then have a field day cos they can't get out!

I don't think there's a perfect answer to be honest...just trial and error as to what best suits you.

Thanks Nicos. You've been really helpful.


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[Knight of Albion]

All sorts of netting concern me having had to release on several occasions blackbirds either stuck underneath it or got their feet entwined in the fine mesh.
Same thing can happen with hedgehogs too.

There's a good heart. If only all gardeners were so caring and mindful....

Respect to you, dear Nicos.

[Shadylane]

Personally, I think debris netting is the best and probably the best value. Also probably the most animal friendly with the exception of veggiemesh/enviromesh. Stay away from the really cheap, stretchy stuff from pound shops or wilkos. You will hate it, wished you payed more for something better and it's more prone to cause problems for birds/hedgehogs.

[WPG]

Whatever netting you decide to get, try to calculate the width/length that you'll need to cover your brassicas (specially if they'll grow tall like sprouts). I've been caught out several times trying to cover my hoop frame and finding that the nets don't reach both sides, or aren't long enough. I've now started to buy my enviromesh from this site as they sell different widths (and I've found their pegs are cheaper than my DIY shop)
Gardening Naturally for Fruit and Vegetable Protection

[mothhawk]

Whatever netting you decide to get, try to calculate the width/length that you'll need to cover your brassicas (specially if they'll grow tall like sprouts). I've been caught out several times trying to cover my hoop frame and finding that the nets don't reach both sides, or aren't long enough. I've now started to buy my enviromesh from this site as they sell different widths (and I've found their pegs are cheaper than my DIY shop)
Gardening Naturally for Fruit and Vegetable Protection

I had that problem this year. I could only find enviromesh 1.8m wide so had to spend half a day with the sewing machine stitching together two lengths to make a piece wide enough to cover the 1 metre high and wide hoops I put up for kale and long enough to run the length of the bed and over the ends of the hoops to the ground.

[Bren In Pots]

This site has an handy calculator for how much fabric and hoops you need for the size of your bed :-

Buiilding frames for insect netting and row covers

Calculate Your GrowCover Size