Introduction
A violent hailstorm that hit an area of Trentino on Thursday, July 22, damaged hundreds of hectares of apple orchards in Italy’s Val di Non-region.
Italian Fruit News reports that the unusually timed storm damaged around 500-600 ha of apple trees in several areas of the region.
If you are a fruit grower or a small farmer, protecting your fruits during the harvest is extremely important.
The most dangerous times for orchards and crops are right before and after the harvest. You face the threat of a storm, extreme heat, or even hail which can badly damage them. An investment in hail netting can save your entire harvest.
Let’s take a look at how to choose the right type of hail netting for your orchard.
Natural Disasters – Hail
Causes of Hail Formation
Did you know the four main factors that cause hail formation?
The first is convection. When warm air rises, it creates an updraft. If the updraft is strong enough, it can carry water droplets to the top of the cloud.
The second factor is temperature. The higher the air goes, the colder it gets, which freezes the water droplets into ice crystals.
The third factor is wind shear, which refers to a change in wind direction or speed with height. Strong wind shear can help create tall clouds and supercell thunderstorms, which are more likely to produce hail as a result of this third factor.
Finally, an updraft needs to keep the hailstones aloft long enough for them to grow large and for multiple layers to form around them.
What season does hail occur?
Hail is a form of precipitation and can occur any time of year, although hailstorms are most common during the spring and summer months. Hail is also referred to as a thunderstorm or ice storm if it occurs in the winter months.
Impact and damage from hailstorms
Hail is a significant risk in temperate orchards.
For example, hail damage accounts for up to 10% of the yearly fruit harvest losses in Argentina and Chile. The main purpose of hail netting is to protect your crops from hail damage.
Once hail stones fall on the branches they cause direct injury to the fruit, shoots, and limbs. The extent of the injury usually depends on the size and shape of the hail and the duration of the event. Injury can range from torn or shredded leaves and small dents that don’t break the fruit skin to effects so severe that an entire crop is lost due to physical damage.
There are two ways that hail can physically damage apple trees:
- direct impact
- windrowing
When hailstones hit a tree, they cause dents in the fruit skin, bruising and cracking of internal tissues leading to bleeding, bacterial infection, and eventual rotting of the fruit. If you have ever heard a child say that an apple looks like it has a bite taken out of it, this is what they are referring to. Hail also causes indirect damage by breaking branches off trees, even going as far as breaking trunks or tearing the bark off completely exposing underlying wood tissue. This type of damage leads to disease, insect attack, and sun-scald.
4 Types of Hail Nets You Need to Know
If you’re looking to protect your crops from damage, you need to know all about hail nets. There are four main types of hail nets, and the type you use will depend on the shape of your field, the size of your crop, and the weight of your hail net.
If you’re just starting out with a new crop or trying to protect a new area of your existing fields, it can be tough to know what type of hail netting to use.
If this is your first time buying hail nets, here’s what you need to know:
Triangle Hail Netting
A cost-effective hail netting design is the Raschel triangle.
These nets are durable and can protect fruit trees against hailstorms. Despite its lightweight, it is very durable.
Due to its use of Raschel machines, the netting is incredibly productive and has a high manufacturing delivery capacity, allowing you to reduce your net prices in comparison to other types.
Drape Hail Netting
Raschel Drape Hail netting is lightweight and multi-purpose. It is ideal for protecting against hail and wasps.
It has the advantage of being easy to install. We call it “Drape” because it can be put up directly at the beginning of each season, It can be used for protection when the whole support system is unavailable.
The disadvantage is that it needs to be hung and dismantled once a season, thus incurring higher labor costs. This may be a solution when a support system cannot be installed or when the budget is tight.
Quad Crossover Hail Netting
Quad Crossover Netting is an innovative and special design of netting. In addition to being used as a hail screen, it is also excellent for bird and shade protection.
Farms in Australia and New Zealand use this option more often.
High initial cost but once and for all.
Perfect for building a microclimate control system from hail, birds, shade, bees, insects, etc.
Leno Hail Netting
Hail netting, also known as Leno Hail netting, is an innovative, lightweight heavy-duty design.
Leno Weave mesh is strong and durable, making it ideal for Hail Netting System. It is more prevalent in European Market.
The delivery time is long since there is low output for production.
| Type | Mesh Size[mm] | Weight[g/m2] | Width[m] | UV Warranty | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triangle Hail Netting | 8.5×2.5/2 | 60 | 2 – 4 – 4,5 – 5 – 6 | 5 Year | Cost-Effective | Fruit Tree Hail Protection |
| Drape Hail Netting | 4.2×2 | 60 | 2 – 4 – 4,5 – 5 – 6 | 3 Year | Light weight | Low Strength | Hail & Wasp Protection |
| Quad Crossover Hail Netting | 16×16 | 90 | 4 -8 -10 -12 -18 | 5 Year | Multipurpose,Durable | Bird , Hail Protection Shade Protection | Canopy |
| Leno Hail Netting | 8.5×2.8 | 55 | 2- 2,5 – 3 – 3,5 – 4 | 8 Year | High Strength | Durable | Hail Netting System | Low ourput production ,Long delivery time |
Interested in our hail protection?
Order a free sample to experience the material and quality firsthand!
How to choose the best hail net for you?
Choosing hail netting for your orchard can be tricky, but we’ve outlined the key factors to consider below.
- Denier: The denier is a standard measurement of yarn size used to measure the strength of the fabric. A lower denier means weaker netting, and a higher denier means more substantial but more expensive netting. To choose the best hail netting for your orchard, you’ll need to consider how much protection you think your orchard will need.
- Weight: The weight of the netting is also essential. Most hail nettings weigh between 45-85 grams per square meter, depending on the material. The heavier it is, the more protection it will offer against sunburn and hail damage.
- Size and shape of hole: The size and shape of the opening in the netting are also essential factors to consider, as is the kind of shading it offers. Some hail nettings have smaller holes with round shapes, while others have larger holes with diamond shapes. Both offer different benefits, such as temperature control and insect protection.
- Shading: The color you choose will depend on your goals—if you’re concerned with keeping pests away, opt for a darker color, but if you’re concerned with heat build-up, opt for a lighter color! Most hail netting blocks a certain percentage of light from reaching your fruit. If you’re looking for a specific amount of shade, check for this specification on the product.
- Color: Hail netting is available in various colors, including white, green, black, and blue. Consider which color will most effectively blend into your landscape.
- Tips: What is the optimal shading rate for apple growth?
Comparison of 4 types of hail netting
Hail nets are a great way to protect your crops from hailstorms. But not all hail nets are created equal.
Strength, function, Usage life, and budget are the main aspects you consider
Here is a comparison of 4 types of hail netting to decide which is right for you.
| Triangle Hail Netting | Drape Hail Netting | Quad Crossover Hail Netting | Leno Hail Netting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength: | ☆☆☆ | ☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
| Multi-Purpose: | ☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ☆☆ |
| Usage Life: | ☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
| Cost Effective: | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆ | ☆☆ | ☆☆☆ |
Wondering about the cost of hail netting?
Our competitive pricing ensures you receive top-quality protection for your investment!
How to choose hail nets for different kinds of fruits？
Fruit is a big business that only gets bigger every year. Even if you’re already in the industry, figuring out what kind of hail net is best for your fruit to protect your investment and maximize your profits can be challenging.
Here are a few tips to help you figure out which type of hail netting would work best for the fruit you’re growing:
For Apple Growers
If you’re growing apples in your orchard, don’t forget that they love the sun! Apples are happiest when they soak up plenty of light throughout the day. This means that your hail netting shouldn’t be too thick, or it’ll block out all the sunlight and make your apples sad, reducing their production rate and coloring. Instead, choose a big hole mesh netting with a transparent color—your apples will thank you!
So we recommended the Leno Hail Netting and Triangle Hail Netting with transparent color for apple growing.
For Seedless Citrus Growers
Seedless citrus is a bit pickier than other fruits. Hail prevention should be considered along with preventing bee pollination, and orchards are usually designed without upright supports.
For this reason, we recommend choosing drape hail netting for seedless citrus varieties like satsuma oranges and lemons if you want to maximize your yield.
For early flowering varieties, a white anti-bee net can be used to prevent bee pollination;
For later flowering varieties, a black anti-bee net or black anti-bird net is necessary to block bees’ eye vision completely.
For Cherry Growers
Cherry growers have many of the same concerns as citrus growers—bee pollination, hail protection, bird protection—but rain can also be a big problem for cherries. If your cherry trees are vulnerable to hail and rain damage, consider using our rain cover, which guards against weather damage!
Also, building a canopy would be a perfect system for cherry growing, so we recommend Quad Crossover hail netting as the best solution.
For Garpe Growers
If you have grapevines, there are a few things to remember when selecting a hail net. First, consider how easy it is to set up your grapevines. Grapevines can be easily trained around a trellis or on fences, which makes them easier to protect from hailstones. Birds and bees are also important considerations for grape growers. Because birds and bees pollinate grapes during the fruiting season, it’s important to ensure that your hail net is breathable enough that birds and bees can still reach your plants.
So, we recommended the triangle hail netting as the first choice. It can be made for vineyard side netting and drape netting.
If you belong to other growers such as Apricot, Plums, nectarine, peach, etc., please contact the EyouAgro and give professional advice. At the same time, EyouAgro can also make customized hail nets according to your requirements.
How to install anti hail nets ？
3 types of Hail Netting installation
Drape Over Row
This method is less expensive than the canopy overhead method, but it is also less effective against hail damage.
This is the quickest installation method. It is typically used in smaller farms or orchards because it involves throwing the net over the crop. Because this structure is so simple, it’s also the most common form of hail protection worldwide.
This style is great for gardens or small crops, but it will not prevent hail from hitting the ground itself and could damage your plants if there are high winds.
Pitched Roof
This is the most common type of installation and can be used to keep out sunlight or hail. One for the left side and one for the right side. A pitched roof is like a tent for your plants. It’s a great option if you want complete crop coverage or live in an area with unpredictable weather. The downside is that this type of netting can be more challenging to install since it requires posts and support beams. It can also cost more money than some other options.
Canopy overhead
This type of installation is more expensive, but it is also the most effective against hail damage.
The canopy overhead method is a flat canopy consisting of a net canopy held in place by a grid of wires or steel cables supported and tensioned at the perimeter by poles and anchors. This type of installation is ideal if you have a large orchard and your land is relatively flat. As its name suggests, this installation creates a flat shape over your orchard. The net is attached to a series of cables that run along the length of the field, and it’s supported by posts at regular intervals along with those cables. This allows for a tensioned system that protects crops from hail damage in areas.
What’s the cost of hail nets for your orchard?
When planning to buy a hail net, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Of course, the price.
What factors affect the price of the hail net? How much does buying one hectare (or so, or less) of hail nets cost?
Now we’ll tell you the answer.
First, you need to measure some information:
- The area of the orchard,
- the spacing and size of the fruit trees and shrubs
- the height of the orchard.
Secondly, determine the product’s width according to your different installation methods.
- If you choose a drape-over-row method, it could be a single row or a multi-row over the drape. We suggest that you use a more comprehensive product for easy installation.
- If you choose a Pitched Roof Method, it would be our standard width size of 4.0m width or 4.5m width.
- If you choose the canopy overhead method, you can use products with different widths according to your requirements.
Thirdly, it is essential to determine whether you need installation accessories along with the purchase of products.
Standard installation accessories include support poles, pole caps, steel wire rope, connectors, fasteners, etc.
You can contact us for a detailed quotation when you know these details.
4 Tips for hail netting
When to Install Hail Netting
It’s best to install hail netting as early as possible before the growing season starts in your area. That way, you can be sure that the netting will be in good shape when your plants need it most.
Where to Buy Hail Netting
Buy directly from a reputable manufacturer.
EyouAgro is a more than 25+ years of history manufacturer.
It is also an industry pioneer with deep research specializing in the material you need for your growing area. For example, if you live in an arid climate, look for a water-resistant fabric durable enough to withstand the heat. If you live in an area with higher humidity levels, look for a fabric that has some moisture-resistant properties. Be sure to ask questions to be sure what you are looking for.
EyouAgro offers high-quality hail netting at a fair price to protect your plants.
We offer various purchase options and can provide technical support while you install your new netting.
Maintaining Your Hail Netting
Your hail netting will need a little love if you want to protect your crops throughout the season. Check it regularly for holes or tears and patch them immediately using joint pins and a small piece of matching fabric. This will keep your plants safe until they’re ready for harvest!
Warranty
As a Hail netting manufacturer, EyouAgro gives you 5~8 years of warranty in normal condition. You can find complete details and guidelines by contacting our company.
Don’t Miss: EyouAgro Warranty Policy
Conclusion
In a nutshell, purchasing a hail net is not a simple task. Individual situations vary, and there are several factors to consider before you decide on the right hail netting for your orchard.
The information above should help you decide, but if you still have unanswered questions, don’t hesitate to contact us info@eyouagro.com.
Our experts will be more than happy to share their knowledge and experience with you.
