Birds can damage a cherry crop quickly, especially as the fruit begins to turn red. A few visits from hungry birds may leave pecked fruit, broken stems, and fewer marketable cherries. For home growers, the result can be a disappointing harvest. For commercial orchards, the losses can be much greater.
Cherry tree netting provides a practical barrier between your fruit and common bird pests. When selected and installed correctly, netting helps protect cherry trees without sprays, noise devices, or repeated daily monitoring.
American Nettings & Fabric supplies knitted bird netting for backyard trees, garden rows, vineyards, orchards, and larger agricultural applications. Here is how to choose and install the right solution.
WHEN TO INSTALL CHERRY TREE NETTING
The best time to install bird netting is after flowering and fruit set, but before cherries begin to color.
Once cherries start to blush, they become more attractive to birds. Installing the netting before this stage gives you a complete barrier before feeding begins.
Use this seasonal checklist:
- Prune and shape the tree before covering it.
- Remove dead branches and loose debris.
- Check that the tree is healthy and free from active pest problems.
- Install the support frame, poles, or wires.
- Cover the tree before the fruit starts to ripen.
- Inspect the netting regularly through harvest.
The exact timing depends on your region, cherry variety, and local bird activity. Early protection is usually easier than trying to cover a tree after birds have already found the fruit.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT NETTING FOR YOUR TREE
For most backyard cherry trees and small orchard trees, lightweight knitted bird netting is an easy starting point. It is flexible, simple to handle, and suitable for draping over fruit trees.
American Nettings’ Knitted Bird Netting is made from UV-stabilized HDPE and features:
- Green color
- 3/4-inch square mesh
- Lightweight construction
- Cuts without unraveling
- Expected life of 5+ years
- Sizes from small retail packages to commercial rolls
Available sizes include 7.5-foot, 15-foot, and 30-foot widths, with lengths ranging from 15 or 21 feet to 500-foot rolls. Measure your tree before ordering. The netting should extend beyond the outer branches and reach the trunk or ground on every side.
For larger commercial blocks, orchard rows, or permanent systems, review Vineyard Multi-Row & Drape Netting or contact the American Nettings team for help selecting a suitable size.
HOW TO MEASURE A CHERRY TREE FOR NETTING
Measure the tree’s height, width, and length. Include the widest branches, not just the trunk or main canopy.
For a simple drape installation, allow extra material for:
- The distance from the top of the tree to the ground
- Coverage around both sides
- Securing the netting at the trunk
- Anchoring the bottom edge
- Uneven ground or sloping areas
A net that is too small may leave gaps around the lower branches. A net that is too tight may pull away from the ground or place unnecessary pressure on the branches.
If the tree is close to the maximum size of one piece of netting, choose a larger size or join two sections. Netting Clips can help connect netting sections and secure netting to wire or support lines.
OPTION 1: DRAPE NETTING OVER A SMALL TREE
Draping netting directly over the canopy is often the fastest approach for small and medium-sized cherry trees.
1. Prepare the netting
Spread the netting on the ground beside the tree. Identify the corners and edges before lifting it. This helps prevent tangles and makes it easier to center the material over the canopy.
2. Lift the net over the tree
Tie two long poles to opposite corners or edges of the netting. With two people, lift the poles and walk the net over the top of the tree.
Do not drag the net across the branches if you can avoid it. Lifting the net reduces snagging and helps distribute it evenly.
3. Cover the full canopy
Center the net so that all fruiting branches are inside the covered area. Check the top and sides for branches that extend beyond the mesh.
The net should reach below the lowest fruit. It should not stop halfway down the tree, where birds can enter from underneath.
4. Secure the trunk
Gather the net around the trunk and tie it securely. Check the area where the trunk meets the net. Even a small opening may allow birds to enter.
Do not wrap the trunk so tightly that it restricts growth or damages the bark. The goal is to close the opening while allowing normal movement.
5. Anchor the bottom
Secure the bottom edge to the soil with fabric staples, pins, or suitable ground anchors. You can also lightly cover the edge with soil or use weights where appropriate.
Walk around the tree after installation. Look for gaps at ground level, around the trunk, and beneath low branches.
OPTION 2: BUILD A FRAME OVER THE TREE
A support frame is a better choice when you want to keep netting off the foliage. It can also make harvest and seasonal installation easier.
For small trees, use hoops, poles, or flexible pipe to create a dome or tunnel over the canopy. For larger trees or orchard sections, install posts around the outer edge of the canopy and connect them with wire or line.
Then:
- Drape the netting over the frame.
- Secure it to the support points with clips or ties.
- Pull the sides down to the ground.
- Anchor the bottom edge continuously.
- Leave an access flap if you need to enter for harvest or inspection.
- Close and secure the flap after each use.
A frame helps prevent branches from pushing through the mesh. It also reduces loose folds where birds or other wildlife may become caught.
For longer support runs, Poly Line and tensioners can help support and tension netting. Net-to-wire clips are designed for fastening netting to wire.
KEEP THE INSTALLATION WILDLIFE-SAFE
Cherry tree netting works best when it forms a complete, tidy enclosure. Loose netting can create problems for birds and other wildlife.
Inspect the installation regularly:
- Keep the mesh reasonably taut.
- Remove large folds and loose loops.
- Check for tears after windy weather.
- Make sure the bottom edge remains anchored.
- Close gaps around the trunk and support posts.
- Check the netting after pruning or harvesting.
- Remove trapped wildlife carefully and promptly.
- Remove or store the netting after the protection period.
A complete enclosure is preferable to loose netting thrown over only part of the tree. Birds that enter an open-sided cover may become trapped inside.
Follow local wildlife guidance for your area. For commercial orchards, plan the support system and inspection routine before installation begins.
WILL CHERRY TREE NETTING STOP OTHER PESTS?
Bird netting is designed primarily for bird protection. It may also discourage some larger animals when installed close to the ground, but it is not a complete insect-control system.
If deer are feeding on the tree or surrounding plants, consider Deer & Bird Netting. This lightweight polypropylene netting has 3/4-inch square mesh and can be installed around garden areas, berry plants, shrubs, and trees.
For small flying insects, use a product designed for insect exclusion, such as “Bug Out” Garden Insect Screen. Selecting the right mesh for the pest makes the protection more effective and avoids using a heavier or finer material than necessary.
PROTECT AGAINST HAIL AND SUN
Some cherry growers need protection from more than birds. In commercial orchards, hail and sun exposure can also affect fruit quality.
Anti-Hail/Bird Netting is designed for larger orchard systems and can help reduce exposure to hail, harsh sun, and wind. The product page notes that permanent systems are often installed with cables and support structures.
For a commercial cherry operation, netting decisions depend on:
- Tree height and training system
- Row spacing
- Orchard size
- Expected crop value
- Bird pressure
- Hail risk
- Labor for installation and removal
- Storage and maintenance requirements
The BC Ministry of Agriculture decision guide also recommends comparing netting costs with the value of cherries protected. A supplier can help estimate the amount of netting needed for your layout.
MAKE YOUR CHERRY HARVEST COUNT
Birds often begin feeding just as cherries reach their most valuable stage. Installing cherry tree netting before ripening helps protect the fruit you have worked all season to grow.
For a small tree, a properly sized piece of knitted bird netting, two long poles, and ground anchors may be enough. Larger trees and commercial orchards may benefit from frames, support wires, access flaps, or a permanent overhead system.
American Nettings & Fabric has supplied netting and fabric solutions for agricultural and home applications for more than 40 years. Choose the right bird netting for your cherry trees, or contact the team for practical help with sizing and installation.
Protect your cherries before the birds get them.