how to fasten environmesh netting

[vegelady]

My beds are 10' x 4', supposed to be raised but hubby hasnt got round to adding wood yet! I have netted all my lettuces, carrots and beetroot using blue arched piping, black clips (from Harrods) and buried the bottom of the net in the soil all round the bottom. The vegetables are wonderful with no blemishes and a joy to eat. However every day when i pick a lettuce for lunch i have to unbury the edge of the netting and as the clips are holding the netting in place waggle my hands in 6" at the bottom to try and grab my lettuce! Its getting a real hassle. How do other people fix the bottom of their netting and does it work.

Also when is the best time to remove the nets completely to weed as in the evenings there seem to be a lot of white moths flying around trying to get in but the beds need weeding.
thanks
Alison

[shirlthegirl43]

I think lots of people weigh the netting down with stones. Not sure on the weeding thing sorry. The only time I netted, I used scaffold debris netting and my hubby built a big frame so i could get inside if I bent over a bit, it had a sort of door affair for me to get in and out.

[chris]

I'd give him a boot up the backside so you can either get some hooks put in the boards, or use bungie cords. My beds are of similar size, and at the moment, I hold the nets down via wood laid over the edges... but I've only netted mine to stop the bloomin' cats.

[Bigmallly]

Depending on the diameter of your piping you may be able to buy some clips to push onto the pipes then just slide the clips up the pipes with the netting. When you have finished, slide them back down again. I make sure I have a clip right at the bottom.
I use pic1 but you may need something like pic2.....I think Ollie set something similar up where the metal clips were fastened to a piece of wood and slid up & down the pipes. The wood then acts as a weight......Hope you can understand my rabble....

[chris]

I looked for some conduit clips - none exist like that, really annoying... I should have gone the water piping route, gutted about that!

[gojiberry]

There is not an easy way to net stuff that I have found, no matter what they are a pain in the proverbial. This year I have made some cloches using wooden batons twin walled polycarbon and mesh on the top, the batons and polycarb make the walls (as deep as you require) and the mesh is stapled on the top. All mine have been made 6ft long as all the beds are 6ft wide. The width can vary as can the height. They are light so easy to lift off and so far are working well.

Ian

[gojiberry]

As an after thought the one covering my carrots is just over 4ft wide covering 4 rows and 14in deep. doing the job so far.

Ian

[womble]

I'm sure there are pretty, easy methods, but I just use old bricks, thrown on the sides, kicked off when needed and then kicked back on again.

[chris]

I can't find those metal clips online, BM - do you know the name of them? (Metal Pipe Clip isn't working for me )

[Bigmallly]

Tool Clips - Buy quality Tool Clips at Screwfix.com

[vegelady]

thank you for all your advice, I think this year I may try and find some bricks/stones (I think a trip to beach is in order!) or wooden battens but like the idea of Ian's more permanent solution
best wishes
Alison

[smallblueplanet]

Our environmesh is weighted down on the long sides by bricks and on the short ends I have stapled gunned the mesh to wooden battens.

[Pies]

My beds are edged with wood,i simply thread bungee cord through the netting this then snaps back around the bed like a giant elastic band

As attached

[SarzWix]

I use long metal staples of the sort used to hold down ground cover. Like these: Galvanised Ground Staples 150mm (6") long x 100mm wide. Pack of 50: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

I get them in packs of 10 for £2 ish from LBS Garden Warehouse. 4 each side and one at each end. Works fine for me

[OllieMartin]

I think Ollie set something similar up where the metal clips were fastened to a piece of wood and slid up & down the pipes. The wood then acts as a weight......Hope you can understand my rabble....

I did, but the design didn't really work:



This is the final design and it's working a treat!

The mesh is stapled to a square of four boards around the base of the dome which are screwed together and can be lifted off the bed for access.