Keep winged visitors away from your garden with bird netting
You may have invested a substantial amount of time in your garden sowing seeds, fertilizing and watering your plants, thinning the seedlings, and finally expecting to reap a bountiful harvest. But no sooner your first batch of fruits and vegetable appear on your trees and plants, you may find yourself watching your produce being rampaged right infront of your own eyes. While it is inevitable for birds and rodents to be attracted to the fruits in your garden, you don’t necessarily need to share with them. You can keep them away from your plants by installing bird netting. It is quite easy and it protects your produce effectively without causing these winged creatures any kind of harm.
When it comes to birds you may not think of them as pests or being capable of causing havoc for your crops/produce. However, contrary to your belief, some of these feathered beings may cause serious damange, especially in areas where there is abundant foliage. Some birds prefer your crops for their foood and they are known to damage tons of crops. Also, any kind of contact with the droppings of these birds may lead to serious or potentially fatal diseases in children, adults, and household pets as well. Hence it is important to select methods for their control which are effective as well as humane in nature. To deal with avian infestation problem effectively resort to bird netting also known as aviary netting. Poultry netting is also a type of bird netting.
Why Opt for Bird Netting
One of the main reasons for opting for bird netting is that this type of netting is quite efficient in deterring them and preventing them from destroying your crops, without causing them any kind of harm. A lot of these birds which thrive on insects and crops are also beneficial for the environment. So using bird netting prevents and restricts these birds from destroying gardens or crops that are not meant for them. Since bird netting is eco friendly, lightweight, and too small for birds to fly through, there is no chance of them getting hurt. It is a great choice for your orchards and gardens to keep birds away.
Another benefit of installing bird netting is that it poses no harm to other animals as well. It does not have any kind of chemicals which may be otherwise harmfulful for your livestock, children, or pets. Since its presence is subtle on your property, it also does not intrude into your neighbor’s privacy or comfort.
When to install bird netting in your garden
When it comes to gardening, timing is everything. There is a time to sow your seeds, to fertilize your plants, and also there is a time when you need to install bird netting. Usually, birds are not going to be drawn to your garden till your first fruits show up and are ready to be eaten by them. So you may not have to worry about installing bird netting till your plants have actually grown up and matured. The best timing to install one is just after pollination has taken place and while your vegetables and fruits are still small and not ripe.
How to use bird netting on trees
Apart from digging into your fruits and veggies in your garden, birds also tend to harvest in your stead. Bird netting is quite a handy solution and works well for fruit trees. Before you install the bird netting, check the trees for birds and bird nests in order to avoid any kind of trapping inside your netting. If the law of your state allows you, you must remove any nests that you chance upon. You need to drape the bird netting over the entire fruit tree, right from the top till the ground. You may need someone to help you and make use of a tall ladder while installing your bird netting on trees. Wrap the bird netting and twist the ends at the bottom of the tree trunk. While it may sound to be quite easy to do so, but it may need a little more effort than just putting the net around your garden.
How to keep birds at bay from your produce
Birds are quite skilled at finding new sources of food and that is precisely why putting up bird feeders proves to be quite effective for people who love bird watching. But in case you want birds to stay off your garden or yard, then you must follow the below tips:
- Install bird netting before your fruits and veggies ripen.
- Do away with bird feeders permanently.
- Try using another type of bird deterrent along with bird netting.
- Remove sources of water in your garden, as birds look out for water to bathe and drink.
- Remove any nests that you come across if it is legal in your state. You may need to do this repeatedly.
Efficiency of bird netting in tandem with other pest control options
Bird netting works amazingly in tandem with other types of pest control options such as noisemakers, repellents, solar panels, spikes, and mirrors. For instance, some gardeners have achieved to keep birds at bay with the help of mirrors mounted on moving objects. Also, if a bird is able to avoid the flashes of light and approach your garden, bird netting acts as your safeguard.
You can also enhance the efficiency of bird netting by simultaneously using repellents such as extracts from chillies which you can spray on your crops and keep birds at bay. When you use bird netting in conjunction with any other deterrent, it can be even more effective.
A low maintenance choice
Bird netting is in fact quite a low maintenance option that you can opt for to deter birds. This netting needs to be replaced only once in every five years. Once you have bird netting installed, it protects your crops day and night without needing any kind of maintenance or monitoring.