The 10 Best Garden Netting
Special Honors
Plantra Hail Netting It's no small investment – but your garden probably isn't, either, which is why you may want to protect it with the Plantra Hail Netting. It can guard against even smaller pieces of hail and can be draped directly on plants or installed with hoops. plantra.com
Fruit Saver Fruit Tree Nets An option that is friendly for both the environment and wildlife, the Fruit Saver Fruit Tree Nets help keep nuisances away, including those pesky fruit flies, for organic production. Mesh bags are also available, which are handy for smaller operations. fruittreenets.info
Meyabond Anti Insect Net Help control the spread of harmful pests such as cabbage caterpillars, diamondback moths, aphids, and flea beetles with this sturdy screen. It can also reduce your need for chemical pesticides, so your crops are heathy and safe. It’s available in several sizes and is made of durable monofilament for extra tensile strength. It’s a breeze to cut, as needed, and is resistant to UV rays. It’s lightweight construction makes for easy handling, installation, and storage. meyabond.com
Editor's Notes
November 10, 2020:
If you grow fruit like blueberries, grapes, or cherries, and want to protect your crops from birds, the newly added BlueFire Heavy Duty is worthy of a look. This commercial-grade choice is made for longevity, as it resists UV rays and is designed not to tangle or snag. It’s constructed from high-density polyethylene that’s reusable, and it’s easy to install. It’s offered in three sizes and is a breeze to cut, without fraying, into the exact dimensions you require. The Enpoint Reusable Barrier Bags also join the list, as a viable option for covering individual pieces of fruit. They come in a pack of 100 and are made of soft, stretchy nylon that allows air to pass through to the fruit. They’re equipped with drawstring closures and are sold in either white or black. These two newly added netting selections replace the Wilson Orchard and Vineyard Supply Bird Netting and the Alltripal Reusable Barrier Bags, both of which are unavailable at this time.
If it’s bugs you wish to protect your fruits and vegetables from, check out the highly rated Agfabric Standard Insect Screen, which is made of UV-resistant, odorless mesh. Sunlight can make its way through, and you don’t need to remove it when you do your watering. It helps ward off frost damage in the winter, and its see-through construction makes it easy to check on the progress of your plants. If you don’t require anything too heavy duty, you should consider the Abba Patio Dark Green Barrier, a netting that will blend right in with most gardens and that stops most leaves from getting in. It’s a good choice for those seeking an alternative to wire, although it’s thin enough for persistent squirrels or rabbits to make their way through. Another light-duty pick is the DeWitt 12-Year Barrier Fabric, which is designed as a weed barrier to keep out invasive plants. It’s environmentally friendly and relatively simple to install. No matter which garden netting you decide to use, you should examine it daily to make sure snakes, squirrels, chipmunks, or birds have not gotten caught up in it.
October 30, 2019:
At this time, we've made a few changes to move away from larger-mesh netting, which can pose a threat to some wildlife, including snakes, small birds, and lizards. These animals can become trapped in the holes of the mesh, injuring themselves as they attempt to struggle free. For that reason, experts suggest ultra-fine mesh, like that found on the Agfabric Standard Insect Screen or Tierra Garden Haxnicks Tunnel, our current top choices. They provide ample protection but should pose no threat. With that said, we have left a couple of traditional mesh options, including the De-Bird Heavy Duty and Wilson Orchard and Vineyard Supply Bird Netting. These remain popular in commercial operations and with a number of home gardeners; you should be aware that they can potentially do harm, especially when draped near the ground, so if you have a thriving small wildlife population, you may want to avoid them.
As for new additions, we opted to add the Vivosun Trellis for those growing grapes and climbing vines. It doesn't require as much space as a traditional garden trellis, as it can be cut to size, but it can tangle so you'll want to avoid handling it carelessly. We also selected the Alltripal Reusable Barrier Bags. Squirrels and other creatures can chew through them, but they do provide a measure of protection against insects.