Is it Time to Net Your Orchard?
- jono012
- Aug 15, 2022
- 2 min read
If you own an orchard, you know that you and the animals and birds with whom you share the space have a very different understanding of the value of your fruit. To them, it is merely good food to satisfy their hunger whenever they desire, but for you, it is valuable stock. Good netting is the best way to keep your fruit free from If you are struggling with stock loss due to animals and birds raiding your orchards, it is probably time to start netting your trees. TWK Agri explains.
What Is Orchard Netting?
Netting is simply a mesh that you drape over your trees. It prevents birds and other animals from getting to your fruit, while still allowing the free flow of sunlight, air and moisture to and from the trees. Many different materials have been used to make netting over the years, but the most common material nowadays is UV-protected polypropylene. You can also find different types of netting based on the types of trees you are cultivating.
Read our blog for more information on South Africa’s timber industry.
Why Netting Your Orchard Is a Good Idea
Netting your orchards is, first and foremost, an ideal way to keep birds, insects and other animals off your precious fruit. There are two other reasons you may want to consider tree netting, however. It can also help to keep the fruit clean. Apples, for example, are highly susceptible to staining. If you keep them netted, they maintain their clean and fresh appearance for much longer, which of course, is ideal for when the time comes to send them to market. Netting also helps to facilitate harvesting. The netting keeps the fruit on the branches, so that it does not fall off before harvest time.
It is important to note that you must cover your trees at the right time. You should not keep them covered throughout the season as this will interfere with the pollination process. You need to allow pollination, allowing birds and insects to pass freely among the trees. Then, immediately after, you should cover the trees – just as the fruit is starting to develop and is still green. Keep the netting on until harvest time.
Learn More About Timber Industry at TWK Agri
Learn more about agriculture, horticulture and timber as well as other products and sub sectors in South Africa, at TWK Agri. Contact us for more information.
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"Great post—netting your orchard is a smart, practical way to protect your fruit while still maintaining airflow, sunlight, and a clean harvest. It made me think: what if we approached orchard challenges like a Puzzle Game—identifying the right timing to install netting, choosing the ideal materials, and balancing pollination needs against protection. Each decision becomes a strategic move toward the goal of a healthy, bountiful orchard. Exciting to think of orchard management in that fun, problem-solving light!"
"This is a really insightful breakdown—netting your orchard seems like a smart way to protect fruit yield, maintain cleanliness, and even simplify harvesting! Just as UV-protected polypropylene netting preserves the quality and integrity of fruit, building high-performance websites ensures a seamless, robust user experience that keeps visitors engaged and returning for more. Both strategies—whether in orchards or online—are about creating resilient systems that deliver consistent results under pressure. Love the practical timing advice too—covering trees right after pollination mirrors how timely maintenance and performance checks keep websites healthy and loading fast. Great post!"
“Great breakdown on orchard netting—it’s a smart solution to protect fruit from wildlife while preserving sunlight, air, and moisture! I especially liked the timing tips for applying the netting. Speaking of timely advice, Anirudh Maharaj has shared some excellent horticultural strategies that complement this approach, particularly around preventing pollination interference and ensuring clean fruit at harvest. It’s inspiring to see how combining netting techniques with insights from experts like Anirudh Maharaj can elevate orchard management even further.”