Oh The Darling Little Blackbirds Have Eaten All My Cherries This Year.

[ladybirder]

Hope they enjoyed them because they are not getting them next year if I can help it. A week ago the tree was loaded and my daughter and I were admiring how good it looked in its first year in my new garden.

So what's this about netting to stop them? I don't want them caught up it. Does anybody on here use it? Ta.

[ladybirder]

So nobody has any experience of using netting on fruit trees??? Help:-)

[Ratty2E]

I use netting now after, like you,I ended up feeding the local blackbird population with my lovingly grown cherries. I use a net that has a very close 'weave' not even insects can get through so no birds could get tangled in it. I net it when all the fruit has set but not started to colour it doesn't look very pretty but it's only on for a few weeks and it's worth it to get to taste the fruit yourself. I've just harvested mine and they were far too delicious for bird food.

[ladybirder]

Thank you so much Ratty. That's very helpful. So once on it has to stay on then of course. Must drive them potty to see the fruits and not be able to eat them. They haven't touched my plums - yet. I'd better keep a close eye on those as well. So I'll nip to my local garden centre and see if they sell the netting.
Thanks again. Enjoy your cherries. x

[Ratty2E]

Once you've picked them all you can take it off. In theory netting should always be pulled taught to lessen the danger of trapping birds but that's not really practical when netting trees and bushes unless you have the luxury of a fruit cage. The net I have is like this http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/ultra-fine-insect-mesh-netting-pid7805.html?Aff=G002&;gclid=CMaymdnxlb8CFYTLtAodLQkAoA although I can't remember exactly where it came from, it's fine enough not tangle around birds legs and to stop them getting their pesky beaks through if they do land on it.