Netting that doesn't harm wildlife

[Blackdogjnr]

Hi,

I'm already thinking about next spring and planning to get some raised beds in the garden from growing of vegetables etc.

I understand that to keep so-called pests away from plants many gardeners use netting.
I am worried that this might cause problems for birds and other small animals.

I guess my hedgehogs will be okay as they will be raised beds, but I'd hate to find birds tangled up in the netting, after all, I love birds a lot more than cabbages!

Anyone have any advice or experience?

I think ym love of insects and desire not to use any chemicals or pesticides on my veg will make life quite hard for me.... (?)

[BigBadger]

Sadly this year the slugs and snails had all my veg. I used a standard green mesh garden netting to stop the birds making a meal of it all and used old CDs to repel them. My garden is full of feeders as my lad and I love birds. We didnt have one caught in the nets so you should be fine.

[naturegirl]

Although the Large whites made shotgun-like holes in my winter brassicas, I have made them a 'tent' of small mesh netting and pick off the larvae (and throw them onto the lawn for sparows) when spotted:

As long as the heart (growing tip) is unnafected then they should grow as expected.

I have had to make a second sowing of Kale as the Large whites ate them all as seedlings!

I have used the good old 'soapy water' to deter these and blackfly which was attacking my runnner beans too! It really works!

My washing up liquid is eco-friendly but it still seems to see off blackfly and the like when used 'frothed up' in an old Fairy liquid bottle!

I also use sand/grit around the stems of young plants to see off slugs and the like until they are mature enough to be not of interest to them. The sand/grit is good for drainage in the soil too and is cheap from DIY stores.

For raised wooden beds you can nail copper strips all around which prevents snails/slugs from entering and is eco-friendly too.

I must admit that I am going to 1/2" net these crops in to prevent pigeons and Large whites from eating them as I love my winter greens!

Naturegirl

[Blackdogjnr]

Thanks for the advice guys, first class as always

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by Blackdogjnr

....I am worried that this might cause problems for birds and other small animals......Anyone have any advice or experience?

Hi Blackdogjnr

If you do decide to use the plastic mesh netting my only advice is to check it each morning and evening for trapped birds/other creatures.

Last year my neighbours asked me to water their veg patch whilst they were away on holiday. One evening I went round and found a young Grass Snake
(approx 15" long) tangled up in the plastic mesh covering the patch. Worse still, my neighbours had used some old Dexion angle-iron (with the holes in it) to hold the mesh down along the sides of their veg patch and the snake had interwound itself into two of the holes in the Dexion as well - it was well and truly trapped

I spent at least 45 minutes carefully snipping the plastic mesh away and then managed to gently pull the snake back through the holes in the Dexion.

However, it showed no signs of any ill effects and as soon as I released it into the meadow adjoining our gardens it was off

Good Luck with the veg by the way - I have 3 raised veg beds but gave up on brassicas some years ago and now grow just early potatoes, onions, shallots and asparagus, though I'll probably start growing carrots, beetroot, spinach and swiss chard again when I've more time (in retirement perhaps )

Jeff

[naturegirl]

Well done you Jeff!!!!!

How good to see someone release a grassnake!!

Wish there were more like you about!!

Naturegirl

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by naturegirl

Well done you Jeff!!!!!
How good to see someone release a grassnake!!
Wish there were more like you about!! Naturegirl

Thank you naturegirl

Jeff