Netting

[leicestershirelass]

We are thinking about putting nets over our fruit trees (apple, pear, cherry etc) this year as most of the fruit disappeared last year before it was time to harvest it.
We think it was either birds and/or squirrels taking it.

Can anyone please recommend good, reasonably priced netting to use?

[rustylady]

How big are your trees? I think it would be squirrels going for your apples and pears, they're a bit too big for birds to steal.

[leicestershirelass]

trees are between 6-10 ft tall

... lots of squirrels around last year, only seen a couple this year ...

[rob the roller]

I tried using plastic netting against squirrels a few years ago, but they bit through it. In the end I built a cage using galvanised chicken wire. Pricey but effective. You don't say where the trees are. If they are in your garden a permanent fruit cage might be worth the time and money, but I would have to think long and hard before maiking that that sort of investment on the allotment. Maybe there is better plastic netting avaiable than the one I was using. Certainly have the seller or manufacturer confirm that it will be squirrel proof before laying out the money.

You might also consider reducing the size of the trees to reduce the cost of netting them.

Rob

[leicestershirelass]

Thanks Rob - the trees are a bit spread out so would need to construct quite a large fruit cage. Previous years have been ok, lost some but enough for us too, but last year hardly anything for us to harvest.

May need to think of plan B!

[rustylady]

Wondering whether you could construct something like this Squirrel & Bird Control to go round the trunks of the trees to stop the squirrels climbing.

[leicestershirelass]

Excellent and hopefully cost-effective idea Rustylady. Thanks

[donnakebab]

And make sure they can't jump on to your fruit trees from any nearby branches of another tree!

They are very good at chewing through tough plastic.

[leicestershirelass]

hi Donna - thankfully the fruit trees don't have any overhanging larger trees near them. Going to have a look round later to see what we've got that can be adapted to make protective domes for plan B.