Bird netting crop in Exeter
Professional bird netting crop services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£85-£135
Typical Duration
1.5-2.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Bird netting fitted over crops, fruit bushes, or vegetable beds. Proper supports keep it off your plants while keeping birds out.
Grow It For Yourself, Not The Birds
Nothing worse than watching birds strip your crops the day before you planned to harvest. Strawberries pecked, raspberries ruined, seedlings pulled up - it's infuriating.
💡 Pro tip: Fit netting after flowering on fruit crops. You need the bees to pollinate first, then protect the fruit as it ripens.
What Makes Good Crop Netting?
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| High enough for plant growth | Saggy netting sitting on leaves |
| Proper mesh size (excludes birds, not bees) | Too fine - catches everything |
| Easy access flap for harvesting | Whole thing pegged down - nightmare |
| Taut and secured | Flapping loose in wind |
What You Get
🔧 Proper Installation
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Measure | Check area, plan support positions |
| Support | Canes or posts to lift net clear of plants |
| Fit | Netting secured taut, access flap created |
📦 You're Left With
- Crops protected from birds
- Easy access for picking and watering
- Professional-looking setup
Pricing Guide
| Setup | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small bed or fruit cage | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
| Medium area or multiple beds | 2 hrs | £110 |
| Large area or complex layout | 2.5 hrs | £135 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Netting and supports additional.
Perfect For Your Garden If...
✅ Fruit bushes - raspberries, currants, strawberries
✅ Vegetable seedlings - pigeons love young brassicas
✅ Allotment plot - whole bed protection
✅ Cherry trees - stop birds getting the crop first
Why Choose Us for Bird netting crop in Exeter?
Properly supported - won't sag onto crops
Correct mesh size for birds
Easy access for harvesting
Protects fruit, veg, and seedlings
What to Expect
Step 1: Plan Layout
I'll check what needs protecting, where supports can go, and how you want to access the area.
Step 2: Fit Supports
Canes, posts, or hoops go in to create the framework. Needs to be taller than your fully-grown plants.
Step 3: Secure Netting
Net goes over taut, secured at ground level but with access flaps where you need them. Check it's bird-proof with no gaps.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to net your crops yourself? Here's how to get it right:
🔧 Materials you'll need
- Bird netting (20mm mesh for most uses)
- Bamboo canes or plastic hoops
- String or cable ties
- Tent pegs or ground staples
- Clips or pegs for securing netting
📏 Planning your framework
- Work out the final height of your crops
- Add 30cm clearance above that for the net
- Support every 1-1.5m to stop sagging
- Create a frame around the perimeter
- Plan where you'll access for watering/harvesting
🪢 Fitting netting properly
- Lay out the frame first, get it sturdy
- Drape net over starting from one end
- Pull taut and secure to ground with pegs
- Leave slack at access points for a flap
- Check for gaps at ground level - birds will find them
- Trim off excess or tuck under to avoid trip hazards
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not enough supports - net sags onto plants
- Netting touching crops (damages leaves and fruit)
- No access plan - end up crawling under every time
- Pegging too tight - tears in wind
- Wrong mesh size (too fine catches bees)
💡 Pro trick: Fit the supports and frame in autumn/winter when the ground is soft. Then you just need to drape the net over in spring when you're busy with planting. Saves time when you need it most.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🐦 Persistent birds? Some Devon birds are stubborn. If they're still getting in, check for gaps at ground level or where the net meets supports. That's usually the weak spot.
Multiple crops? If you're growing several things that ripen at different times, use separate nets so you can remove one without disturbing the others.
End of season? Take netting down, clean it, and store it dry. Wet netting stored in a heap goes mouldy and rots. Fold it properly and it'll last years.
Butterflies welcome? If you want to net brassicas against pigeons but still let cabbage whites through (for the caterpillars!), you've got that backwards. Same net stops both, thankfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size mesh do I need for bird netting?
20mm mesh stops most garden birds including blackbirds and pigeons. If you've got sparrows getting through, go for 15mm. Too fine and it catches bees and butterflies, which you don't want.
Can you fit netting over my existing vegetable beds?
Yes - I can work with raised beds, ground-level rows, or fruit bushes. The key is getting the supports high enough that the net doesn't touch the plants as they grow.
How do you stop the netting sagging onto the crops?
Proper framework of canes or posts to keep it taut and high enough. Saggy netting that rests on your plants damages them and tangles when you try to harvest.
Will this work for strawberries and soft fruit?
Perfect for them. Strawberries, raspberries, currants - anything birds love. The netting goes over after flowering so pollinators can still get in, then stays on through harvest.
How long does bird netting installation take?
Small bed or cage: 1.5 hours. Bigger area or more complex setup: 2-2.5 hours. Depends on how many supports need fitting and the ground conditions.
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