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How to Put Bird Netting on Blueberry Bush
To put bird netting on a blueberry bush, you need to drape the netting over the shrub and secure it tightly around the base so birds can’t sneak underneath.
It’s one of the simplest ways to protect your harvest from hungry feathered visitors.
If you’ve been wondering how to put bird netting on a blueberry bush without damaging the plant or trapping birds inside, you’re in the right place.
When you put bird netting on a blueberry bush correctly, you save your berries from being stripped clean before they even ripen.
In this post, we’ll walk through when to put bird netting on a blueberry bush, the supplies you need, and the exact steps for getting a secure fit every time.
Let’s dive in.
When to Put Bird Netting on a Blueberry Bush
Timing matters more than most people realize when you’re putting bird netting on a blueberry bush.
If you wait too long, the birds will beat you to the fruit.
If you put bird netting on a blueberry bush too early, you can interfere with pollination.
Here’s how to get the timing right.
1. Wait Until After Pollination
Blueberry bushes need bees and other pollinators to visit their flowers.
If you put bird netting on a blueberry bush while it’s still blooming, you block those pollinators from doing their job.
So hold off until the flowers drop their petals and small green berries start to form.
That’s the perfect window to start putting bird netting on a blueberry bush.
2. Watch for Berries Turning Color
The moment your blueberries shift from green to pink or blue, birds take notice.
Robins, starlings, and cedar waxwings can clean out a bush in a single afternoon.
So put bird netting on a blueberry bush as soon as you see the first berries changing color.
Don’t wait for a full harvest to ripen because that’s when you lose the most fruit.
3. Leave It On Until Harvest Ends
Once you put bird netting on a blueberry bush, keep it in place through the entire harvest season.
That means checking it regularly for gaps and re-securing it after storms.
Only remove the netting once you’ve picked the last of your berries.
Supplies You Need to Put Bird Netting on a Blueberry Bush
Gathering the right tools makes the job of putting bird netting on a blueberry bush much easier.
Here’s what to have on hand before you start.
1. Bird Netting Sized for Fruit Bushes
Choose netting with a mesh size of about ½ to ¾ inch so small birds can’t squeeze through.
The netting should be wide enough to drape over the entire bush and reach the ground on all sides.
When you put bird netting on a blueberry bush, a larger piece is always better than one that’s too small.
2. Stakes or a Frame
You can put bird netting on a blueberry bush by draping it directly over the plant, but the netting will snag on branches.
A simple frame of wooden stakes or PVC pipes keeps the netting off the foliage.
This makes it easier to put bird netting on a blueberry bush and reduces damage to tender shoots.
3. Clips, Twine, or Landscape Pins
These hold the netting tight against the ground.
They’re the secret to making sure that once you put bird netting on a blueberry bush, nothing gets trapped inside or slips under.
Step-by-Step: How to Put Bird Netting on Blueberry Bush
Now for the main event.
Follow these steps, and you’ll know exactly how to put bird netting on a blueberry bush properly.
1. Water the Bush First
Give your blueberry bush a good drink before you start.
A hydrated plant is more flexible, which means fewer branches snap while you work.
Do this a few hours before you plan to put bird netting on a blueberry bush so the foliage is dry by the time you begin.
2. Set Up Your Frame
Push stakes or PVC pipes into the ground around the bush, angling them slightly outward.
The goal is a frame that’s a few inches taller and wider than the bush itself.
This structure is what makes it simple to put bird netting on a blueberry bush without wrestling with tangled branches.
3. Drape the Netting Over the Top
Start at one side and gently pull the netting across the top of the frame.
Work slowly so the netting doesn’t catch on twigs or tear.
When you put bird netting on a blueberry bush this way, you avoid the frustrating snags that come from dragging it.
4. Pull the Netting to the Ground
Bring the edges of the netting all the way down so they touch the soil.
There should be no gaps along the sides.
If you can see daylight under the netting, birds can find their way in.
This step is where most people go wrong when they put bird netting on a blueberry bush.
5. Secure the Edges Tightly
Use landscape pins, bricks, or stakes to pin the netting firmly to the ground.
Go around the entire perimeter and check for loose spots.
Once you put bird netting on a blueberry bush and pin it down, tug gently on the netting to confirm it’s snug.
6. Check for Trapped Birds
Before you walk away, look under the netting for any birds that got caught during the process.
If you find one, gently lift an edge and let it escape.
This is an important habit any time you put bird netting on a blueberry bush.
7. Inspect Weekly
Storms, squirrels, and curious pets can loosen the netting over time.
Walk around your bush once a week and re-secure any spots that have pulled free.
Staying on top of this keeps your bird netting on blueberry bush setup working all season long.
So, How Do You Put Bird Netting on a Blueberry Bush?
To put bird netting on a blueberry bush, you drape the netting over a simple frame and pin the edges firmly to the ground.
Timing it after pollination and before the berries turn color gives you the best results.
Supplies like mesh netting, stakes, and landscape pins make the job quick and painless.
Follow the steps above, and you’ll put bird netting on a blueberry bush like a pro.
Your reward is a full harvest of plump, ripe berries that the birds never got to touch.