Alternatives to Bird Netting

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Bird netting was never intended to keep birds out of things. It was made to trap things, and it does just that. We've seen birds, lizards, snakes, and everything else tangled up in bird netting, and rabbits and rodents just chew threw it anyway. 

An efficient, cost-effective product to keep critters out of the garden is tulle, the same product used for tutus and bridal gowns. It is inexpensive if you purchase it online, and you can easily drape it over plants and secure it down with a few rocks. The fabric is lightweight, allowing the plants to freely grow underneath, and the tight-knit mesh allows sunlight in while protecting tender plants from veggie-eating predators like quail and bunnies without hurting them. Tulle also deters some problematic insects, decreasing the need for chemical alternatives that negatively affect our health. Make sure to remove the tulle when plants start flowering for pollination. The plant is less likely to be eaten after it has grown in size anyway. 

Aluminum screening: Aluminum screening is inexpensive, keeps critters away, stores up easily, and can be reused. It requires a bit more work and money than tulle but also lasts longer. Simply staple screening to 1x1s and steak it into the ground around the plants or garden area that needs protection.