enviromesh - how effective is it?

[novicegrower]

Hi all,
I've bought some enviromesh and my OH has made me some hoops for my raised beds from water pipe, as recommended in the forum. My question is, as you have to remove it for a time to weed the beds, is it still effective, or do you end up letting the little blighters in and then tucking them up for a good feed, when you replace the netting after weeding?
I've got 5 beds with only 1 netted at the mo and I'm not sure if its worth the time and effort to cobble up enough to cover them all. (As the beds are different sizes, we need to cobble a solution for each one, as we rotate the crops each season). What do you guys think? Is it worth doing, or would you take your chances? The bed that is currently netted was devastated 2 seasons ago, which is why we started with that one.
Lastly, how do you secure your netting? I've used the odd bricks and boulders, but don't have enough to do all the beds, so thought we would review that at this stage too.

[kizkiz]

I used cheap tent pegs from tesco

[Two_Sheds]

as you have to remove it for a time to weed the beds, is it still effective

Well, obviously if the net is off then *things* can get at the veg. You need to be as quick as poss, and try to weed in the evenings when the insects have gone home to bed

[Nicos]

I've found it good against caterpillars,flea beetle,birds,carrot fly but not slugs which like to hide under the damp edges in this weather.
Peacocks and bunnies seem to be able to get under it though if you don't make sure it's secure- esp against the wind.!

Remember not to put it over the top of any fruit/veg which need pollinating- unless you are happy to pollinate by hand.!

[mothhawk]

The easiest way to secure it is on a wooden frame round the base, so you can lift up the whole thing, not have to lift the net off the hoops then pull it back on. Enviromesh is well worth it IMO to keep off caterpillars, flea beetle, birds, cats, aphids etc. And if you feel you have to scatter blue pellets, nothing else can get at them, or eat the dead/dying slugs.

There are quite a few videos on youtube showing how to do it.

Here's one to give you a starting point.

[Alison]

It's fab stuff but as already said clearly things can get in when you pull the sides up to weed / harvest. I mainly peg mine down but also use plastic bottles filled with water and bits of plank. Some people bury the edges but that's too much of a faff for me. Mine is now up to 5 years old and as good as new from a working point of view although a bit grimy looking now - I do peg it to the line every now and again and hose it down but don't bother properly washing, not really any need.

[novicegrower]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Doh! hadn't thought of weeding in the evening!
I also like the idea of water filled bottles to hold it down.We have a lot of those, due to hosepipe ban and it means no extra holes in the mesh.It has been very windy here of late, I'm surprised that I've still got plants standing.Now I'm off to keep the magpies off the strawberries and the pigeons from my peas!

[redser]

You can make long 'sand bags' out of old socks or tights to hold down the edges but even a few lengths of 1 x 2 cheap timber with a few bricks on top would do the job (and probably better). Apart from pests it will protect your plants from the wind which could flatten your plot during a bad storm.
I use this, it's been through a few storms and is perfect. So long as I don't physically tear it with tools etc I expect it to last a good while. A far cheaper option at 5 euro a pair Each curtain is 3m x 3m. I joined them together using wundaweb and then ran a stitch right up through this seem for added strength. Ah, a woman's work is never done. That's why my wife told me to sod off and do it myself

LILL Pair of curtains - IKEA

[novicegrower]

Ha Ha, good one!
next time I'm near Wembley or Milton Keynes, I'll go take a look.
many thanks

[The Large One]

we used enviromesh last year on our brassicas
having to lift it off is a pain and it does let the critters in as proven by 3 days later everything seemed to have been munched
i've laid out weed matting this year and will plant through that then cover directy...so no weeding necc, so lifting till cropping, hoping it works
to secure it i bought some of the weed matting retaining pegs which work v.well, expensive but long as i don't lose them i should have them for ever....

[novicegrower]

Hey large one, I like that idea. I cover the beds not being used in the winter with old carpet to save on weeding etc in the spring, so it would be no hard task to cover with weed matting in the spring to plant through.The idea of not having to weed is exciting too!! Please let us know how you get on with it this season, perhaps I can have brassicas next season after all!! where did you get your retaining pegs from?