Tips for Choosing and Installing Garden Netting
The best way to preserve the look of your garden and to keep the plants safe from birds is to install garden netting. You may have a beautiful garden growing lovely flowers and perhaps vegetables, but as attractive as the garden is to you, it is even more so to animals that view it as a veritable smorgasbord of tasty treats. Here you will learn how to select the netting, to size it for your garden, and finally how to install it.
Pick Your Netting
First you have to choose between light weights that are virtually invisible to heavier premium weights which are more effective at keeping birds away from your plants. Premium netting is more effective and will last longer. Light weight netting is more appropriate when lower price and low visibility are the most important goals of your project.
Once you have selected your netting the next step is to carefully plan the installation. It is most important to identify all of the places where birds can access your plants. Make sure that your plan for the netting encompasses every area where birds can penetrate. The path that your netting takes around your garden must be clear of any dangerous obstacles that could damage it such as sprinkler systems, extreme heat, or any other object that might damage it. Finally figure out where to install zippers to give you access to the garden for any applications.
Measure and Install Your Netting
Now measure where the netting will be applied to get the amount of netting that you will need for your project. Look for any structures such as lattices, joists, or beams for example where the netting can be attached. Use conversion tables available at your dealer to determine the exact amount to order. Select the hardware necessary for your installation. A tensioned cable system will be used to support the netting. Again, work with your dealer to make sure that you get enough hardware to cover your installation.
Now you are ready to install. Cut your netting according to your plan to cover all of the area. A good pair of scissors is all that you will need to accomplish this. Keep in mind that the goal of the installation is to eliminate any holes, sagging, or wrinkles in the netting. Now overlap the pieces of netting that you cut by six inches and install the hardware fasteners on both side of the six inch overlap. Seal the seams with whatever your dealer recommends, whether it's twist locks, net ties, or poly cord.
When you have overhead supports such as a lattice or pipes, fasten the netting to them with net ties, install support cables where there are no existing support structures and tie the netting to them. You should not go beyond twenty-five feet without having a support structure for the netting. If you run into an obstruction such as a light, make an X cut in the netting just large enough to pass the object through it and then use a net tie to tie is off tightly to the object.
When you are finished with the installation, make sure to check all connections. Test by pulling on the netting to see if any of your ties gives. If not, you are done and the local birds will have to find another place to feed.
