"Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz" wrote in message
news
What's the best way to protect blueberries from birds?. Bird netting gets
all tangled on the bushes, is there a better way. My cat is doing his
part but he can't be there 24/7, is there something else that might scare
them away?

Josh

Josh,

Go to the hardware store. Starting in the electrical supplies aisle, buy
some one inch diameter plastic conduit. This is gray pvc with one male end,
one female end and is very flexible. Next go to the cement/masonry aisle
and get some 3/8 or 1/2 inch rebar (hopefully they have some already cut to
2 foot lengths). Pound four two foot long rebar rods in the ground, evenly
spaced around the plant, with about 8 inches of rod above ground and about
one foot out from the branches. Insert the hollow end of the plastic
conduit on one rod, then bend it in an arch over the plant to the rod on the
opposite side. Do that again with the other two rods to create a second
arch over the plant. Use more than one piece of conduit joined together if
needed to keep the hoops off the branches. Do not worry about the two hoops
touching, being exactly centered or anything along those lines, each hoop
can stand on its own. You now have a smooth surface to easily pull a net
over without the net touching the branches. Modify as needed for long rows.

Keith