j said:


I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though I
had sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the assault?

Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

OK, here's what worked for me (before I moved to the sandpit, where
peach trees come to die).

I made a bunch of panels using 48" wide 1" hex netting (aka, chicken wire)
stapled onto 1x2 x 8 foot wood strips. The hex net extended about 1 foot
beyond each end of the wood.

Make enough panels to circle the tree. Tied the panels together to surround
the tree, with the loose hex net extending outward top and bottom. (It might
help to have a couple of stakes or fence posts to help get you started.)

Animals that can push through (or tear through) draped bird netting won't
get through wire mesh.

You can roll the panels up to store for next year.

And the panels will also work to protect small block plantings of sweet corn.

Also, I have some clusters of peaches, should I thin out the extras?

Yes.

--
Pat in Plymouth MI

"Yes, swooping is bad."

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