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Gopher · 05-01-2009, 09:29 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening

In message , Charlie
Pridham writes
In article 3128cd6f-8c13-4907-9a65-
,
says...
On Jan 4, 5:03*pm, Charlie Pridham
wrote:
Our fruit cage is under going a major overhaul at present. about 20 years
ago I exchanged the normal fruit cage netting on the sides with chicken
wire of about three quarter inch dia holes. Worked really well as I was
able to grow clematis over the sides without damaging the netting.

Right, what I want to know is how big can the holes be before black birds
and thrushes get in? I would quite like to let in the tits, wrens and
other pest eaters so do not want to put back the same size unless I have
to.
The roof continues to be the standard woven fruit cage netting
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwallwww.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

We have been given a fruit cage by a neighbour who no longer wants
it. I want to grow stuff in there that would be safe from the dreaded
white cabbage butterfly, as I am trying to avoid sprays. What mesh do
I need as the mesh is almost destroyed anyway.

Judith

Judith, if you just want to keep things out then standard fruit cage
netting is the stuff, normally black woven mesh its light lasts at least
20 years and will keep out butterflies as well as birds.

Many thanks for the rest I will look at the various bird sites as
suggested 2" sounds in the right area. Helen your 8cm sounds a bit large
at around 3" but maybe lost something in the conversion/translation.

I agree almost totally with Charlie however I noticed last year that the
black woven mesh with which I surrounded our blueberry section had been
penetrated by blackbirds. Observation proved that they pecked and picked
at an obviously suspect part and created their own entry. Of course they
absolutely love blueberries but this netting - the usual stuff - is less
than 7 years old. It may have been defective however - but it proved
little defence against determined blackies. In other parts of the garden
I have found chicken wire very effective.
--
Gopher .... I know my place!