The Best Grape Bird and Wasp Netting Yet?

We want to protect our grapes without killing birds. What to do? The best netting installs easily, doesn't snag and lets air and sunlight do their magic. Check it out!
#netting #birdnet #grapeharvest
If we don’t net our or cover our grapevines, we’ll get nothing for our labors and investment, but the birds and wasps will certainly enjoy the bounty!
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As our yardscape has matured and habitat has formed, we have enjoyed a growing community of various types of birds. While we enjoy the wildlife’s strong validation of what we’ve planted, they have a voracious appetite for fruit. The birds have plenty of other choices on our grounds and the neighboring areas, so we don’t mind saying “off limits!” to our harvest to our feathered friends.
We’ve used standard bird netting before. Available in various sizes, rolled or folded, it’s reasonably priced, and if handled and stored well, lasts for 3 to 4 seasons. Once in place, it’s fairly easy to secure with cable ties that can be clipped later when the netting is removed.
However, it comes with several BIG downsides.
For humans, it’s difficult to place because of the large spaces in the netting. So, it constantly “catches” on branches and vine ends as it’s being applied. This leads to a lot of frustration and ripped areas in the netting.
For birds, the stakes are higher. Standard bird netting can be lethal. Over the last several years, we’ve cut out a dozen of dead or maimed birds that have been caught in the net and either died of hunger and or thirst or were trapped when we found them. It’s not pretty, and it got us thinking, “Is there a better way?” Fortunately, there is!
This past summer our home was featured on our county’s local Garden Tour. One of our visitors gave us the idea to use tulle (the fabric used to make wedding veils and prom dresses) instead of bird netting. They had tried to buy bird netting, but all the stores were out of stock. They were committed to not just letting the birds have the crop, so they had to think of something different. They went to their local fabric store and bought yards of tulle. Tulle (pronounced like “tool”) is available in 108”/3 yard/2.74-meter widths and in various lengths. It’s also available in a nice variety of colors. We ordered green but it turned out to be neon green and it’s pretty bright - but we still like it!
Tulle is easier to install because it’s more like fabric but breathes and lets the sunshine through like netting. Care must still be taken to not tear the fabric should a snag occur. When spreading it out to place on the tree or vine, it doesn’t pick up as many twigs and small branches from the ground either. Once it’s in place, we chose to use clothespins to clamp the bottom and ends shut. The ease of removing a clothespin to release a bird, should one get inside, is much quicker than removing and re-installing a cable tie.
To secure the tulle, we used clothespins. For grapes supported on our two-tier grape arbors, we drape the tulle over the top and adjust it to get the bottom edge to be the same distance down the sides of the vines. We then fasten the two sides together along the bottom edge, beside the trunk, and at the end of each arbor row. Wow! What an improvement over “standard” bird netting!
We got our tulle from:
www.fabricwholesaledirect.com
The tulle was $36 and shipping was $7. We only used 35% of the bolt to cover the grapes this year.
The bolt we got was 50 yards/46 meters long and 3 yards/2.75 meters wide. Whether you buy online or locally, it’s likely you’ll have a better selection if you buy “off-season” - that is, in the cooler months.
Thanks for watching! Now, you can protect both your harvest and our bird friends, too! Sure, you can buy fruit and grapes, but with help like this, you can -
JUST DO IT YOURSELF!
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[@tuesboomer1623]

Nice. I remember my grandparents draping an elderberry bush in front of their barn with the same thing, for the same reason. They used white because the barn was white. Best pie ever!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Very cool! Thanks, tues boomer! Best, DFM

[@rosenurse7687]

Great idea! This is better than the protective cover that I just bought from Amazon. Thank you for confirming what I was thinking of doing! Great video!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad it was helpful!

[@louislandi938]

I cannot remember ever hearing a better helpful hint. Should also save my strawberries! Thank you for sharing such super information!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

So glad to help Louis Landi. I couldn't believe how easy it was to drape everything - no snags - no fuss. I'm sure it will work on your strawberries too! Best to you and thanks for watching and commenting. Dirt Farmer Maggie

[@jtay72]

This is such a fantastic idea!! AND they have a Memorial Day sale going on, so it only cost me 25 bucks!! Thank you!

[@DawnDBoyerPhD]

I had heard someone else using Tulle so I am tickled to see you all using and showing it and how you used it!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks Dawn Boyer. The bird netting got so frustrating because the little birds could get in and then not get out. Several of them had painful deaths after being trapped. Tulle not only prevents them from entering but it also keeps out wasps and bees without harming them. Will be netting the grapes again soon for this growing season. Best to you, Dirt Farmer Maggie

[@lujitsu1251]

Thanks for that link. Awesome.

[@cynforrest]

Brilliant! TFS this idea 💕

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks Cyn Forest. I was thrilled with the ease of applying this to my grape vines. It's been a few weeks now and it is still as secure as the day I applied it even though we've had a couple of big storms and even some flooding. Best to you! Dirt Farmer Maggie.

[@squirrellyacres]

That's a great idea, I think I'll give that a try on our cherry trees. Thanks for sharing.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks Squirrelly Acres. I think it would be pretty easy to sew two pieces together to make a big square instead of a long rectangle. We stopped fighting with the bird netting a few years ago on our orchard trees but will give this a try next Spring. Best to you, Dirt Farmer Maggie

[@jackiekreuzer4008]

Definitely going to try on my dwarf fruit trees.. Thank you..

[@DirtFarmerJay]

It worked like a charm and you can buy the tulle in many different colors so it will blend in better with the surroundings. I bought it on line and had it delivered. Best to you, Dirt Farmer Maggie.

[@marietschopp2629]

Thank you so much! Gonna try with my blueberries!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

I used clothes pins to keep it from blowing away. Attached at the bottom by clipping to a wire. Best to you and your blueberries. Dirt Farmer Maggie.

[@LoveAwakensSouls]

Awesome Info!!!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

We're glad you found it to be helpful, Kawana. Thanks for stopping by. Subscribe if you haven't already! Best, DFJ

[@geriannroth449]

Fantastic thanks

[@cambridgeratmom]

Fantastic solution.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

YES!! It's so easy to put on and to remove. You can use it season after season. Best to you! Dirt Farmer Maggie.

[@TRUTHRULES777]

Thank you.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

You are most welcome.

[@teresahoye6477]

Great idea for my elderberries. Thank you so much! Great video!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad I could help Teresa Hoye. I have to give credit to the new friends we met on the Garden Tour. I would have never thought of tulle on my own. Keep watching and commenting! Best to you, Dirt Farmer Maggie.

[@teresahoye6477]

I did order the tulle and I'm getting ready to put it over my Elderberries, the berries are green right now. Going to beat the birds this year! Lol

[@FrantasticFacials]

That is a fantastic idea! Love the simplicity. Have you had any rains yet? Curious how it will hold up with the raining season.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Hi Fran. We just had a really hard rain last night. Jay just went out to check the tulle and it's fine - no change. Hope you and hubby are doing great. Love, Auntie Maggie

[@cdixon2397]

What a great idea! I'm wondering if I can do this to keep the squirrels from digging up my herbs and veggies in my containers.

[@FrantasticFacials]

Oh that is a great idea. Never thought of using for other gardening applications.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks C. Dixon. I don't think tulle will keep squirrels out. They'll just eat right through it. I'd try making a cover with chicken wire slightly larger than your container. Perhaps put large nails on the corners so you can push the wire covering on the nails to hold it in place. Hope this helps. Best, Dirt Farmer Maggie.

[@llieske]

Awesome idea! I just wonder how it'll hold up in the summer heat, it gets up to 120 out here.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

goltoof, I suspect it will do fine, but give it try and let me know. I think you'll be pleased with the results. Best, DFJ

[@dfortini1056]

The tulle will degrade & eventually disintegrate in the sun. In southern California, summers get pretty intense, and the tulle lasted less than 2 years. It was 2-layers over a chicken-wire wrapped area, and the chicken wire kept out the varmints (squirrels, rabbits, possums & raccoons) and the tulle really helped with insects, as well as birds. Considering the low cost & ease of replacing, it works well!

[@TRUTHRULES777]

We have grapes and we have honey berries, and some other berries, but not a whole lot yet but when I moved in here, there was tons of bird netting that was partially buried in the ground and all over and I don’t think it’s good. I think little animals can possibly get hurt from it? I’m not sure but I like what you’re doing especially if you’re monitoring it. I think I’ll do that when my grapes get bigger, we just are in the process of building and our big arbor for them and for the berries, I don’t mind sharing some of the berries because this is how I am but I think that’s a better idea. It’s tighter. Little animals can get stuck in it I would assume?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Eve, thanks for watching and writing. The typical bird netting is awful. It snags, rips, is hard to handle and place, or to remove. There are many birds that get caught in it and die a horrible death. We have found that when we use tulle, the opening are so small that snags are all but eliminated, and it keeps even wasps away from the fruit. At the same time, air can move through it just fine. We not had any problem with having any type of animal get caught in it, and we were able to preserve the harvest for us! Best, DFJ

[@markharris348]

Would it work to keep the cabbage butterfly off my brassica plants? Does the rain go through it?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Mark, I believe it will work well for keeping the moths off the plants. The mesh is fine enough to keep pretty much all but the smallest insects out, while allowing air, breezes, and water to come through. Give it shot! Best, DFJ

[@carolrobert5992]

I use it on my kale plants. Works great.

[@alidjillali7450]

Bonjour 🇩🇿🌹🇩🇿 Merci et salutation

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Salut à toi aussi mon ami !

[@DrDennis]

How would that size work on a 30 foot pear tree that the squirrels are hitting??

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Well, my first suggestion would be to buy a full bolt of tulle (40 feet per bolt) The tulle is 9 feet wide. Unroll the bolt and cut the tulle into two 20 foot pieces. Then sew them together and use to cover your tree. You'll have an 18 foot by 20 foot piece. Best to you, Dirt Farmer Maggie

[@EdStaniszewski]

i need 25ft wide. Do they make it?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Edward, not that I can find. This is a fabric category and is sold in the customary widths that are available. The widest I can find is 108"/274cm. I hope this helps! Best, DFJ