| How To Net Dwarf Apples |
| The Poles |
| The Net |
| The Pegs |
| The End Result |
| Winding Up and Winding Down |
These are the bamboo poles, 4 per tree, which will support the net.
Cost: $13.50 for a packet of 10. Each one is 1.54 m (5 ft) long.
Source: The local hardware store.
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This is the net wrapped around the poles.
Cost: $3.50 each.
Source: The local 'Chinese shop', which is what we in Australia call a certain type of shop, invariably owned by Chinese, which stocks a huge range of small hardware, crockery, etc.
The bold text in the middle of the picture lists the sizes available. Actually, the shop only stocks the smallest size. It reads 'N.2 x 5M HEAVY'. 'N' means the stock number is '2 x 5M HEAVY'. '2 x 5M' means 2 m (6 ft) wide and 5 m (15 ft) long.
Position the poles 1 m (3 ft) apart, at the corners of a square, equidistant around the tree. Given they are all 1.54 m (5 ft) long, after pushing them about 14 cm (6 in) into the ground, roughly 1.4 m (4.5 ft) sticks out.
Trap for beginners: Leave enough room between trees and hence between poles, so you can get the motor mower between the nets!
Make sure you stretch the fabric out in both directions before the next step.
Wrap the long dimension horizontally around the poles. This turns out to be very neat because it reaches around the poles for 4 m (12 ft) and there's a 1 m (3 ft) flap left over. Just drape the end of the net over the 4th pole for the moment. The point is to leave a door instead of tying the end tightly to the 4th pole.
The door is where you climb in and use scissors to cut the grass, for example.
And it's also where you climb in to plant Tansy, a companion plant.
Also, you can simply hook one of the turf pegs - discussed below - thru the net to hold the flap in place.
So how do you tie the net to the top of the pole? That's FAQ # 1! Small tacks pushed or hammered into the upper end of the poles are a good idea.
The narrow dimension of the net - 2 m (6 ft) - easily covers the vertical distance of the poles - 1.4 m (4.5 ft).
Lastly, how many nets will you need? Well, obviously, 1 per tree. But keep in mind you might like to chop up one net and use it as a cover to stop birds. This is discussed further below.
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These pin the net to the ground, locking out possums, rats and dogs. They are 15 cm (6 in) long, i.e. down each leg.
Cost: $50.00 for a packet of 100.
Source: The local hardware store.
Use lots of pegs around the base of the net, at least one every 10 cm (4 in), to ensure there are no gaps under the net.
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What else to say? Just that the tops of the nets are close enough that they probably discourage birds from landing on the fruit and destroying it. But I wouldn't bet on it!
And that using nets does not stop bees pollenating the flowers. Putting a cover on the top will block birds and, perhaps unfortunately, butterflies.
Happy gobbling!
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