It can be quite rewarding to maintain a garden but you have to combat some of the challenges that come with it such as managing pests. Insects can cause a lot of damage to the plants but there are effective solutions that can be used to prevent them from getting into your garden. One such solution is netting and we will explain more on this in the article below.

Insect netting will act as a physical barrier between the insects and the plants. The insets will not be able to access the fruits and leaves when you install the net and this can actually be an environmentally friendly method of deterring insects compared to the use of chemical pesticides. This will also allow sufficient airflow to the plants and penetration of sunlight so that the growing conditions are not affected. There are different types of netting for insects so you need to choose the right one for your requirements. You need to consider factors such as visibility, durability and mesh size when it comes to this. You can use fine mesh made from polyethylene, nylon, polyester etc. There should be small gaps to prevent insects from getting in while allowing pollinators to come in.

The proper installation techniques should be used

So that sufficient protection can be maintained. You can first drape the netting over the plants and make sure that the plants are completely covered without any gaps being there for insects to access. The edges of the netting have to be secured by using stakes or weight. This will help secure them firmly to the ground so that insects cannot crawl underneath. If you have crops growing over a trellis or taller plants, you can build a support structure or frame so that the netting can be elevated above the foliage. You can use anchor pins or stakes to secure the netting to the surrounding structures or the ground. You have to make sure that seams or corners are secured firmly barring access to insects. It is good to inspect the netting from time to time to check if there are any tears or damage to the net. You can repair or replace the netting after inspecting the damage. You need to make sure that its structural integrity is intact.

You need to have regular monitoring to make sure

That your plants are protected. Some of the things you can check for are signs of damage, pest activity and sagging. You can make adjustments to the netting as required. You also need to monitor the health of your plants and their growth to see whether airflow or penetration of sunlight is impeded. This can affect the development of the plants. Netting has to be used selectively so that you can avoid unintended consequences. You can use netting for plants that are susceptible to insect damage or high value plants. This way, you will not have to use it all over the garden which can lead to high costs for materials and labour. You can also plant pest resistant species or insect repellent species alongside vulnerable crops so that it can act as a natural pest repellent. Strategies such as this can be used with netting to increase the effectiveness of your pest management.