INTRODUCTION
Keeping your fruits in healthy conditions ranks among the most important responsibilities of every grower. You commit a lot of resources and labor into making sure the product is viable enough for harvest and eventual sales.
But there is very little you can do to stop pests and natural elements from being attracted to your orchard. It is almost like they were waiting for you to put the seeds in the ground just so they could attack the plants. Of course, some of these “pests” are necessary to your plants’ growth but that doesn’t absorb all the damage they can cause
Between weeds, pests, and unfavorable natural conditions, it does not take much to make farm produce inedible. Whether you are planting a personal garden or you are on a more commercial scale, you will have to manage the factors that can affect your plants’ health before you can have your desired harvest.
While we are almost at the mercy of natural conditions, agricultural evolutions have provided solutions to the weeds and pests challenges. The most popular option is the use of pesticides and herbicides, but what if there is a more natural option?
Netting your orchard is one of the best ways to prevent pests and wildlife from overrunning your orchard. Its structure provides a shield for your plants against pests and even natural elements like hail and excessive sunlight. However, despite the benefits of netting, like every helpful process, it has its delicate sides that need to be considered. Here are basic ideas you should consider when netting your orchard.
You Can’t Go Wrong With Net Frames
Just hauling the net over your plants may work in most situations, but what happens when your plant sprouts taller than the net? Sometimes, the stems will bend when they reach the net, other times they will just shoot higher, taking the nets with them and exposing themselves to pests.
People rarely plant orchards with the hope that they would stay stunted but it is not unusual to see nets weighing down the plants and making them bend or stay shorter than they can really be.
Using net frames reduces the uncertainty of your plants sprouting to the net level. Net frames are usually measured and constructed to be higher than the intended plants, this can guarantee that the plant would not reach the net no matter how tall it sprouts.
Try Photoselective Nets
Every grower has it drilled in their mind that photosynthesis is crucial to plant growth; sunlight is easily one of the most recognized necessities to plant life. But very few of us are conscious of the damage excessive sunlight can cause to our orchards.
A recent study by the Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission (WTFRC) shows that Sunburn leads to reduced output from orchards and even breeds lesser qualities of produce.
We can choose to blame global warming and climate change but the reality is that our orchards need less sunlight than they get and unless you want to groom your orchard under a shade away from sunlight, Photoselective Netting is the next best thing.
Depending on their colors, these nets can reduce the intensity of light that would reach the plants and help you boost your orchard yield. Photoselective Netting is not the ultimate solution to poor harvests but its capacity to reduce heat and wind intensity helps your plants leverage photosynthesis without being damaged by the rays.
Save Some Money With Multi-Purpose Nets
Most nets are sturdy enough to keep sun rays and insects out at the same time, but a lot of them are lacking when birds and the other wildlife join the fray. The same dilemma applies to nets that can hold back animals but are large enough to admit insects.
These nets, while adequate in their individual capacity, are rarely sufficient to keep your plants as healthy as you need them. Using either net exposes you to the risk they do not accommodate and that is enough trouble for anyone.
Some growers try the innovative option of multiple nets, they use larger nets outside to keep birds and animals away while the ones closer to plants are narrow enough to stop insects. This innovative option could work but it is not financially prudent.
The more prudent options are multipurpose nets, they are narrow enough to keep insects away and can withstand attacks by birds and the larger wildlife. This saves you the cost of replacing your smaller nets frequently due to animal attacks and the need to use pesticides when using the larger nets.
Designer Nets For Your Location
One of the ease of the digital world is the ease of purchase and supply. You can get quality orchard nets from most online stores and pest control services. But no matter the quality of these nets, you might find them unsuitable for your location.
Location is an underestimated factor when choosing nets, growers rarely consider variables like insects and animals that are native to their location or the humidity levels. When not considered during purchase, the net can prove detrimental to the orchard
It is not a matter of being appropriately manufactured but more about being appropriate for where you need to use them. Nets that serve well in a colder region might be too intense for your plants at a warmer location, leading to poor heat distribution and reducing the yield.
Opting for designer nets saves you the trouble of poor purchases. Of course, the nets rarely have special features than others, they may just be spaced or have the appropriate intensity to suit where they are used.
Pollination Friendly Nets
Nets are designed to keep pests out and not to deprive your orchard of the necessities. When your net does not follow specifications, it can hamper basic plant requirements like pollination.
The average mesh diameter of your netting should be between 15 and 25 mm, this is small enough to keep birds out and large enough to let bees and other helpful insects in. While the average mesh diameter might admit some less helpful insects, opting for a smaller scale could affect the pollination process.
In Conclusion
Netting has become a favored anti-pest solution among orchard growers but the risk of getting it wrong is still quite high. Getting professional netting aid is a more guaranteed way to keep your orchard blossoming.
EyouAgro nets and our agriculture protection services are highly recommended to help you avoid the pitfalls of poor netting choices. Our products and services are affordable and they come with warranties. Contact us at info@eyouagro.com or visit https://eyouagro.com today, let us help your orchard flourish.
