Blueberries can take months to grow and ripen. Birds may need only a few mornings to remove much of the crop.
The right bird netting for blueberries creates a simple physical barrier between your bushes and hungry birds. When installed correctly, netting helps protect ripe fruit while still allowing sunlight, air, watering, and harvesting.
American Nettings & Fabric, Inc. supplies knitted bird netting for blueberries, strawberries, grapevines, fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and commercial growing areas. With sizes ranging from retail packages to commercial rolls, you can choose a practical solution for a few backyard bushes or a larger berry planting.
Why Use Bird Netting for Blueberries?
Birds are attracted to blueberries as soon as the fruit begins to change color. Robins, starlings, finches, and other birds can quickly damage berries before they are ready to harvest.
Bird netting offers several benefits:
- Protects fruit without applying chemicals
- Creates a clear, physical barrier
- Can be installed, removed, and reused
- Works for home gardens and commercial plantings
- Helps reduce crop loss during the ripening period
- Can also protect other fruit and vegetable crops
Reflective objects and noise devices may discourage birds for a short time, but birds often become accustomed to them. Netting provides more consistent protection when it fully covers the planting and the edges are secured.
Choose the Right Netting for Your Berry Bushes
Start by measuring the area you need to cover. Include the full length, width, and height of the bushes. Netting should cover the top and sides, with enough material to reach the ground.
For small blueberry plantings, Knitted Bird Netting is a lightweight option designed for fruit and garden protection. The product features:
- Green knitted HDPE
- 3/4-inch square mesh
- UV stabilization
- Lightweight construction
- Material that cuts without unravelling
- A listed life expectancy of 5+ years
The available sizes include small pieces for individual bushes, wider rolls for garden beds, and commercial lengths for larger growing areas.
For a planting that may also need protection from deer, Deer & Bird Netting is another option. It uses lightweight, UV-stabilized plastic mesh and is available in a 7-foot by 100-foot roll.
For larger rows or vineyard-style applications, review Vineyard Multi-Row & Drape Netting. The correct product depends on the size of the planting, the support system, and how often the netting needs to be opened for harvesting or care.
When Should You Install Blueberry Netting?
Install netting before the berries become fully ripe. A good time is when the fruit begins to color but before birds have started feeding heavily.
Installing early has two advantages:
- Birds are less likely to establish the bushes as a regular food source.
- You can complete the installation before branches are heavy with ripe fruit.
Check your bushes regularly as the season approaches. Weather, variety, and growing location affect ripening time, so use the condition of the berries rather than a fixed calendar date.
Remove the netting after the harvest period ends, unless you are using the material for another approved application.
How to Protect Blueberry Bushes From Birds With Netting
1. Measure the planting
Measure the total area to be enclosed. Allow additional material for:
- The height of the bushes
- The sides of the planting
- Extra overlap at the ground
- An access opening for harvesting
- Uneven ground or slopes
Avoid ordering a piece that only reaches across the top. Birds can enter through open sides and feed from the edges.
2. Prepare a support system
For low plants and small bushes, netting can be draped over the planting and secured at the edges. This is a simple approach for temporary protection.
A support frame is often better for taller bushes or larger beds. You can use posts, hoops, poles, wire, or cord to keep the netting above the foliage. A frame helps:
- Keep the mesh from resting directly on the branches
- Reduce the chance of birds reaching berries through the net
- Make harvesting easier
- Reduce sagging after rain
- Provide a defined enclosure
Leave enough clearance between the outside leaves and the netting. The net should not be pulled tightly against the fruit or branches.
For a garden cage, install posts around the perimeter. Keep the structure stable and add a top support if the area is wide. A taut line across the top can help support the netting and limit sagging.
3. Drape the netting over the bushes or frame
Place the netting over the top and down each side. Work slowly to prevent the material from catching on branches, supports, or nearby equipment.
Pull the netting moderately taut. It should be secure without being stretched so tightly that it tears under wind or contact with the frame.
If you are covering a long row, install the netting in sections or use a support line along the top. Larger pieces are easier to manage with two people.
4. Secure the sides and bottom edge
The bottom edge is one of the most important parts of the installation. Birds can walk or fly under a loose edge, even when the top of the planting is fully covered.
Secure the netting with:
- Fabric Staples & Pins
- Soil placed lightly over the edge
- Boards, rocks, or other suitable weights
- Posts or perimeter lines
- Clips attached to a support wire
Close gaps around corners, posts, trunks, and uneven ground. Check the entire perimeter after installation.
5. Create an easy access point
You need to enter the enclosure for harvesting, pruning, watering, and inspection. Plan the access point before fastening every edge.
Options include:
- An overlapping opening at one end
- A clipped flap
- A curtain-style opening
- A removable section of netting
Keep the opening closed whenever you are not working inside the enclosure. A convenient access point makes it easier to use the netting correctly throughout the season.
Use Netting Clips for Faster Installation
Netting Clips can help connect netting to netting or netting to wire. They are useful when you need to remove, adjust, or reopen part of the enclosure.
Available clip styles include:
- Net-to-net clips: Join sections of netting together.
- Net-to-wire clips: Attach netting to wire or cord.
- Curtain clips: Allow netting to slide along a wire when access is needed.
Clips can be especially useful for blueberry rows with a supported top line. They also help create a more manageable opening for repeated harvesting.
Check the Netting During Berry Season
Inspect the enclosure at least once each week. Look for:
- Tears or holes
- Loose clips
- Displaced staples or weights
- Sagging sections
- Openings around the base
- Branches pushing against the mesh
- A door or flap that is not fully closed
Repair small damage as soon as you find it. A patch, clip, or replacement section can help maintain a continuous barrier.
Keep loose netting off the ground wherever possible. Proper support and secure edges help reduce the risk of wildlife becoming caught in the material.
Remove and Store the Netting After Harvest
Once blueberry harvest is complete, remove the netting carefully. Shake off leaves and other debris, then allow the material to dry before storage.
Roll or fold the netting neatly and keep it in a dry location away from direct sunlight, rodents, and sharp tools. Inspect it before storing so repairs can be made before the next growing season.
Knitted bird netting may also be reused for other suitable applications, including garden protection and seasonal shrub wrapping. For winter protection instructions, see Shrub Wrap.
Protect Your Blueberry Crop With a Practical Netting System
The best way to protect blueberry bushes from birds is to cover the entire planting before the fruit is fully ripe. Choose enough netting to reach the ground, support it above the foliage where practical, and secure every edge.
For a few bushes, a simple draped installation may be enough. For larger plantings, a framed enclosure with clips and a planned access point can make protection easier to manage.
Explore bird netting for blueberries from American Nettings & Fabric, Inc. for American-made quality, practical sizing, and crop protection support for home gardens and commercial growing operations.