Netting for peach trees

[Mary B. Gross]

I have been told to put a net or a cover over my peach trees and the blackberry bushes to keep birds out.
Will this harm the birds?
The place I work at has a huge net over these large trees on the patio where food is served.
My peach trees are three years old, real bushy and short. I would like to have some peaches for us at least once.
The same goes for the blackberries.
I do love watching the birds. We have two acers so we have lots of birds.

[Tony M]

It will work without harming the birds but be prepared for a chore installing and removing the netting. Are you sure squirrels aren't part of the problem?
Tony M

[Mary B. Gross]

We have two acres of pasture land with horses on either side.
I am planting trees just now.
We don't have squarels yet.


Mary

[grdngrl]

Mary, I have covered my blackberries with net strecthed over arches made of 20ft lentgths of PVC pipe place on 2ft long pieces of rebar driven into the ground. Hold the net nto the PVC with cheap butterfly hair clamps from the dollar store. the advantage of doing it this way is that you can keep the plants from going through the net, which causes a nightmare when it comes time to remove it. If the peach trees are smallish, this would be good for them also. It's plenty stable and very temporary when you're ready to take it down after the harvest. I got my PVC at Lowes several years ago--Home Depot didn't carry it longer that 10 feet at the time. Or you could get it from a plumbing supply. Also, you have to hold the net down on the ground firmly or the birds just go under it.

[Mary B. Gross]

Thank you that sounds like a great way to do it.

Mary