Greetings! I am hoping for advice on netting for fruit trees. Specifically 4 paw paw trees. I have to go with netting and it needs to be a fine mesh and hopefully would last a few years. I can sew so stitching together some pieces would not be a problem. I haven’t looked into the fabric stores yet and I am looking for an economic source if possible. Estimating I will need a piece 12 feet by 20 feet. The trees are very close together. Thanks in advance!
PS - Pretty sure I want a 1/4# mesh. The pawpaw fruit is so tiny and last year was my first year with fruit and the birds got it all when they were about the size of rice grains. I watched them. Arghh!!
Have you considered using Reemay fabric, versus netting? It lets light and water in, but keeps the birds out.
We used it for lots of stuff at the Garden Center - it was a great row cover when we had annual plants out in the open, but they were predicting cold/freezing weather overnight. The Nursery Manager would cover up small fruits (Raspberries, Grapes, Currants, etc.) with it to keep the birds off - an easier sale when you can actually show fruit on something, later in the growing season...PLUS, you could sell them some Reemay for home use. ;) (A.B.C. Always Be Closing...the SALE, LOL!)
You should be able to sew with it any way you want to.
https://territorialseed.com/products/row-cover-reemay?variant=12786194808931
I also found this mesh/netting, but it ain’t cheap!
These are NOT the only sources, of course! Just giving you an alternative.