Garden Bird Netting Installation Tips for a Versatile Bird Control Method
At certain times of the year, British gardens become the target of hungry birds looking for a tasty treat or enough food to feed their growing offspring. Thankfully, there's a simple solution that can help keep your flowers and vegetable patches safe from ravenous birds – garden bird netting!
Bird netting is an extremely versatile product that can be used in a variety of different ways to deter birds from entering your garden.
It can be used to cover vegetable patches, fruit trees, ponds, and sheds, create temporary or permanent barriers, and can even be spread across large roof areas to offer protection against roosting birds.
It’s also very easy to install, so you don’t need to be a bird control expert to use it effectively.
We’ll explain the different types of bird netting available, how to use them, and some helpful tips for getting the most out of this simple yet effective solution.
Garden Bird Netting Tips: How (& Where) to Install It
Garden netting can be very effective at protecting your plants from common garden birds that have become pests around your vegetable patch or flower beds. However, it's essential that this versatile netting is installed correctly in order to provide adequate protection and avoid injuring wildlife.
We've broken down how to install various types of garden netting to protect various types of plants against various types of birds.
Covering Fruit Trees
To protect your fruit trees from birds, begin by selecting the appropriate netting size based on the tree's height and width.
Our 20mm multi-purpose, heavy-duty bird netting is made to order, making it a great choice for covering your trees and protecting against a wide range of birds.
Then, drape the netting over the top of the tree, allowing it to fall evenly on all sides. Ensure the netting covers the entire tree, including the lower branches, to prevent birds from accessing the fruits.
Secure the netting to the ground using stakes, rocks, or garden staples, ensuring there are no gaps for birds to squeeze through.
To ensure your fruit trees are properly protected, read our more detailed guide on how to bird net fruit trees.
Protecting Flower Beds
For flower beds, measure the area and cut the netting to the required dimensions. When covering flower beds, you don't need as much excess netting as with a tree, but we recommend adding a few inches onto each side of the flower bed so you can securely fix the netting in place.
If you need the netting raised off the plants, install stakes around the perimeter of the flower bed at regular intervals, ensuring they are tall enough to support the netting above the plants. Spread the netting over the stakes and secure it tightly so that it doesn’t sag.
Use garden clips or cable ties to fasten the netting to the stakes, and check periodically for any signs of wear or gaps that may allow birds to slip through.
Safeguarding Crops
When it comes to shielding your crops, you need to do some DIY structuring. Build a simple frame using PVC pipes or wooden stakes around the perimeter of your crop area to keep the netting raised up off the crops far enough to let them grow and thrive.
Once the frame is constructed, drape the netting over it, ensuring the net extends beyond the edges to cover all potential entry points. Again, we recommend an excess on all sides of at least 6 inches.
Fasten the netting to the frame using garden cable ties or staples, and anchor the bottom edges with soil or weights to prevent birds from sneaking under.
To protect against common garden birds, we recommend opting for a smaller mesh, such as the 28mm starling netting in stone, for natural-looking effective protection.
Protecting Ponds & Water Features
Consider draping bird netting over ponds or other water features in your garden to effectively deter birds and maintain the cleanliness of your outdoor areas.
Opt for one of our netting products that can be cut to a bespoke size to fit your pond perfectly. We’d recommend our 20mm Multi-Purpose, Heavy-Duty Bird Netting to protect against larger birds that are likely to try and get to your fish.
This simple yet effective measure not only keeps the area clean and tidy but also crucially protects fish from potential predators.
Fish Pond Netting Buyer's Guide
Bird Netting Garden Sheds, Greenhouses & Your Home
To use bird netting to protect the roof of your shed, greenhouse, or even your home from nesting birds, follow these simple steps:
First, measure the area of your roof you want to protect. After taking your measurements and selecting the colour and mesh size, we cut the bird netting to fit your custom dimensions.
Then simply drape it over the area you intend to protect and, depending on the material of the roof, use cable ties, nails, or screws to secure the netting in place, ensuring it's taut so birds cannot slip through any gaps.
The same can be done to protect a balcony canopy from bird damage. If you have a retractable canopy, reach out to our team to see how we can keep your balcony bird-free.
Creating Temporary or Permanent Barriers
Bird netting can be employed in various ways to suit immediate or long-term needs. For temporary measures, such as during specific seasons or for short-term projects, the netting can be easily secured with pegs or cable ties.
This approach allows for quick installation and removal, making it ideal for gardeners who need to protect seedlings or harvests during critical growth periods.
For more permanent solutions, bird netting can be attached to fence posts or walls, providing a durable barrier against birds. This method is particularly useful for protecting buildings, vineyards, or orchards where long-term prevention of bird damage is essential.
By securing the netting to a solid structure, you ensure that it withstands various weather conditions, offering reliable protection over time.
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Note: You should regularly inspect your bird netting to make sure that no birds have become trapped in the netting. During inspections, check for areas that have become loose or broken that could pose a threat to local wildlife. |
What Range of Bird Species Does Bird Netting Keep Out?
Bird netting offers comprehensive protection against a wide range of bird species, from small sparrows to larger seagulls.
The varied mesh sizes ensure effective safeguarding of your garden; finer meshes, from 19mm to 28mm, are ideal for keeping out smaller birds like sparrows, while more robust, larger meshes, from 50mm to 75mm, are designed to deter bigger birds such as pigeons, crows, and seagulls.
This versatility makes bird netting an essential tool for any gardener looking to protect their plants from avian pests.
Should I Use Heavy Duty Bird Netting?
If you have a problem with larger garden birds, such as seagulls, pigeons and crows, then we recommend using our heavy-duty bird netting.
This type of netting is thicker and stronger than standard bird netting, making it more durable against the larger and stronger talons and beaks of bigger birds and, of course, longer-lasting.
It's important to note that heavy-duty bird netting does not provide protection against smaller garden birds due to the larger mesh size. It's also possible for smaller birds to become entangled in the mesh if they try to squeeze through.
We recommend inspecting larger netting regularly and using heavy-duty netting in tandem with smaller mesh netting to keep smaller species safe in your garden. Alternatively, you can install some bird scapes into your netting to allow trapped birds to escape but not re-enter the netting.
Final Thoughts: How to Install Garden Bird Netting
Bird netting offers versatile protection for gardens, shielding plants and structures from avian intruders. It can cover vegetable patches and fruit trees, create barriers around gardens, prevent birds from roosting in sheds, and keep balconies and roofs free from droppings.
So, if you're looking for a versatile way to deter birds from your garden, bird netting is definitely the way to go!
Shop our full range of bird netting online at Huck Nets today!
Check Out Our Full Range of Bird Deterrents
FAQs
To secure bird netting to the ground, use stakes, rocks, or garden staples to anchor the edges firmly. Ensure no gaps remain where birds could enter. This technique not only stabilises the netting but also prevents it from being lifted by wind or animals. In the UK, bird netting for domestic gardens typically does not require planning permission. However, if you're installing netting on a large scale or in a conservation area, it’s advisable to check with your local council to ensure compliance with any regulations or guidelines. You can use stakes, poles, or a framework made from PVC pipes or wooden posts to hold up bird netting. Garden clips, cable ties, or string can help secure the netting to the supports, ensuring it remains taut and effective at keeping birds out. There is no preference here; however, we would recommend choosing white bird netting as it will be less visible in your garden. Black bird netting can be quite noticeable, especially if used over a large area.How Do I Secure Bird Netting to the Ground?
Does Bird Netting Need Planning Permission?
What Can I Use to Hold Up Bird Netting?
Is Black or White Bird Netting Better?