Introduction
Growing your own fruit is so rewarding, whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out. Once you plant, water and fertilise your trees or bushes, you can sit back and enjoy your hard-earned harvest, right? Unfortunately, there’s not always any left for you! Fruit trees are often raided by pests like birds, possums, bats and sometimes even rodents - often before your fruit is even fully ripe. On a smaller scale, many pest insects can contaminate your fruit, laying their eggs on fruit buds or leaves, often parasitising your tree .
Why is fruit tree netting necessary?
Fruit netting, also known as bird or insect netting, acts as a physical barrier to cover your fruit trees and shrubs, to prevent birds and other pests from getting to your fruit before you can. Any fruit that pests like birds and possums get to is no longer safe for consumption. If they visit your trees repeatedly, their droppings can accumulate on leaves and the forming fruit, introducing mould or diseases. Depending on the type of fruit you’re growing, you may encounter insects like snails, fruit flies, aphids, codling moths, weevils, citrus stink bugs and leaf miners. Fruit netting is a great way to protect your harvest once your fruit is ripe, and as your fruit is forming. Fruit netting is a perfect alternative to pesticides and other scare tactics, while protecting the entire tree.
Types of fruit tree netting
Fruit netting can come in various sizes and gauges. Larger gauge netting (19mm) is suitable for preventing birds and possums from getting to your fruit, whereas small gauge fruit netting (10mm and smaller) protects your fruit and tree from insects, as well as birds, possums, rodents. The size of the netting itself should comfortably cover your tree or bush.
Drawstring Nets
These are traditional bird & insect nets. A super fine gauge (1mm) protects your fruit trees and bushes from larger pests, like possums, bats and birds, all the way through to small parasitic insects. Drawstring tree nets are perfect for large trees, especially if you need to lock away your harvest for a long period of time. Our Tree Defender also has a zip closure, for ease of installation and fastening.
Drape Nets
Drape nets are usually one large panel, and can be draped across bushes, trees or veggie patches. The drape net is perfect for when you need quick and easy coverage across multiple bushes, across raised garden beds, or for simple installation, when you frequently need to check your harvest.
Fruit Bags
Fruit bags are small netting bags designed to cover only individual fruit/branches. This is a pollinator friendly option and you can pop these on as your fruit forms, to protect the fruit from insects, birds and possums.
How bird netting for fruit trees can be dangerous for wildlife
Unfortunately, hungry animals can get trapped in bird netting with a larger gauge (10mm+). Animals like birds, bats, possums and lizards that get tangled can get stuck and be unable to free themselves for hours or days. Netting that becomes tightly wrapped around animals can also cut deeply, while they struggle to escape.
What kind of netting is safe for wildlife?
Currently, the ACT and VIC are the only states in Australia that have laws in place regarding fruit netting safe for wildlife. Across Australia’s other states and territories, recommendations are encouraged for the use of netting that prevents wildlife entanglement.
To be wildlife-friendly and be compliant with all state regulations, any netting should have a 5 x 5mm gauge or smaller at full stretch. Fruit netting should pass the ‘finger test’ - you shouldn’t be able to fit your finger through the net.
White netting is also recommended as it is the most visible colour for animals to see at night. Netting should also never be loose around the tree/bush and should be secured tightly, to prevent entanglement.
All of the bird & insect netting, including the drape nets and fruit bags here at EnviroBug are compliant with all regulations and recommendations in Australian states and territories. So you can harvest, without harm!
When to put your bird netting on
Generally it is best to put your netting on your fruit trees or bushes in spring, or once fruit has started to form. However, if you purchase insect fruit netting with a fine gauge, it is really important to ensure you don’t install your netting prior to or while your tree is flowering. This will prevent friendly insects from pollinating your flowers which is a vital step in growing fruit. It is recommended to install the Tree Defender Bird & Insect Netting once most of the flowers have started to form fruit, or alternatively use Envirobug’s Fruit Bags to cover individual branches, leaving the rest of the flowers free for pollination.
