When you grow flowers or vegetables in your garden, you might come across pests like aphids, leafhoppers, cabbage worms, and tomato hornworms. These pests eat your plants and also spread harmful diseases, causing damage to your plants.
With the start of summer and warmer weather, many pests become more active. To lessen the harm these pests cause, a lot of garden lovers are using insect nets as their main protection. But how do you pick the right insect net for your garden, and where can you buy it?
In this article, we’ll help answer these questions for you. We hope this info will be useful in your gardening efforts.
How to Choose The Best Garden Insect Netting?
Typically, the mesh of insect nets is designed to range from 0.6 mm (0.024 inches) to 1.44 mm (0.057 inches). This range effectively defends against an array of pests from small ones like aphids, thrips, and whiteflies, to larger ones such as butterflies, moths, and birds.
However, the question remains, how to select the best-suited insect net for your garden? Generally, we’ll consider the below points:
1. Mesh Size
The size of the mesh is a prime factor when choosing an insect net. It determines the kind of pests the net can keep out. A smaller mesh can stop smaller insects like aphids but may restrict airflow and water circulation. Hence, choose a mesh size that is apt for the types of pests prevalent in your garden. Here are some common mesh sizes and the types of pests they can deter:
| Mesh Size (mm) | Mesh Per Inch | Types of Pests Prevented |
| 0.6 – 0.8 | 40 – 31 | Most small pests including aphids, thrips, whiteflies, and various small insects |
| 0.8 – 1.0 | 31 – 25 | Medium-sized pests like leafhoppers, smaller moths, grasshoppers, stink bugs, mites, and other insects of similar size |
| 1.0 – 1.4 | 25 – 18 | Larger pests such as butterflies, moths, birds, beetles, locusts, bees, and other big insects |
2. Material
The insect net material should be durable, able to withstand harsh weather conditions like heavy wind, rain, sunlight, and more. The material also impacts the light and air permeability of the net, both crucial for plant growth.
Insect nets typically made from polypropylene and polyester are commonly used due to their durability and lightness.
3. Size
The size of the insect net is crucial and should align with the actual dimensions of your garden or plantation area. Start by measuring your garden or plantation area’s size, which includes length, width, and height. This will assist in determining the size of the insect net you need.
Because pests may come in from the top or sides, it’s crucial to use an insect net that completely covers the area that needs protection, this includes the tops and all sides of your plants. Furthermore, you should consider the room your plants will need to grow and whether extra space is needed to properly secure the insect net.
4. Cost
Keep in mind your budget when selecting an insect net. Ensure that your choice represents a balance between cost and effectiveness.
Insect net pricing can fluctuate depending on the material, dimensions, and other unique features. For retail consumers, the rate generally falls between 0.5 and 1.5 cents per square foot. For those purchasing in substantial quantities, it’s often possible to negotiate a more favorable price with the supplier, commonly yielding substantial discounts.
Moreover, if you’re contemplating establishing a local insect net enterprise, you might want to buy in bulk through container loads from international manufacturers, such as our brand INSONSHADE.
Top 3 Recommended Insect Netting for Garden
Following, we present our hand-picked top best insect net products, curated specifically for gardening enthusiasts in America. These products boast excellent sales records and high user ratings. If interested, do consider making a purchase.
| Product | Material | Rating (Total Reviews) | Mesh Size | Price Per Sq Ft |
| JORKING Garden Netting | Polyethylene | 4.6 stars (401 reviews) | 0.8mm x 1mm | $0.14 |
| Garden Tailor’s Pest Barrier Netting | High Density Polyethylene | 4.6 stars (1,770 reviews) | 0.635mm x 0.635mm | $0.12 |
| FARAER’s Ultra-Fine Mesh Garden Netting | Polyethylene | 4.4 stars (4,542 reviews) | 0.8mm x 1mm | $0.11 |
1. Jorking Garden Garden Insect Netting
The Jorking Garden Netting is a valuable tool for gardeners. Its ultra-fine 0.8mm x 1mm mesh spread across 8 x 24 feet provides excellent plant protection. Crafted from 100% polyethylene, it’s durable and reusable, effectively keeping pests out.
More than a barrier, it supports plant growth by permitting air, sunlight, and water access. You can cut it to fit your needs or use it with hoop support, making it adaptable. It’s easy to use and perfect for various sites like raised beds and farms. Plus, at around $0.14 per square foot, it’s cost-effective.
Key Features:
- Ultra-fine 0.8mm x 1mm mesh blocks pests and lets plant essentials through.
- Durable and reusable 100% polyethylene material.
- Can be custom-cut or used with hoop support.
- Versatile for a range of plant cultivation sites.
- Easy to use and economically priced.
2. Garden Tailor’s Pest Barrier Netting
The Garden Tailor’s Pest Barrier Netting is an all-purpose solution for your garden’s protection. With dimensions of 10’x30′, it’s an effective barrier against pests like cicadas, carrot flies, and various aphid species, ensuring a healthy and flourishing garden.
Crafted from 100% new HDPE material, this net is UV-resistant, light enough not to impede plant growth, and durable for long-term use. The net also allows air, water, and light to permeate. Priced at $0.12 per sq ft, it’s cost-effective. And with a 4.6-star rating on the Amazon store.
Key Features:
- Effective pest barrier against various insects and animals.
- Made of 100% new HDPE, UV-resistant material.
- Allows air, water, and light to pass through.
- Convenient to use on various garden setups.
- Priced economically at $0.12 per sq ft.
3. FARAER’s Ultra-Fine Mesh Garden Netting
You can also enhance your garden’s defense with FARAER’s Ultra-Fine Mesh Garden Netting. Spanning 10’x33′, it also provides robust protection for various types of crops from diverse pests.
Constructed with premium Polyethylene (PE), this insect netting is durable yet lightweight, ensuring no obstruction to your Garden plant’s growth. Valued at an economical $0.11 per sq ft, and boasting a high 4.4-star rating on Amazon, it will be another good product you can consider.
Key Features:
- Offers a formidable barrier against a wide range of pests and insects, safeguarding the vitality of your crops.
- Crafted from high-quality Polyethylene, ensuring durability and longevity.
- Permits the ingress of vital air, light, and water, eliminating the need to remove the net for watering or feeding plants.
- Suitable for different types of garden layouts and crops.
- Priced competitively at $0.11 per sq ft, making it an excellent value for money.
FAQs：
1. Common Vegetables and their Corresponding Garden Pests
Here is some pertinent information regarding garden vegetables and their common pests that we found on Oklahoma State University’s website.
| Vegetable | Possible Pests |
| Asparagus | Asparagus beetle, Aphids |
| Beans | Bean leaf beetle, Aphids, European corn borer, Leafhoppers, Corn earworm |
| Cruciferous vegetables (including Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Kale, Mustard, Turnip) | Diamondback moth, Cabbage looper, Aphids |
| Cucurbits (including Cucumber, Melon, Pumpkin) | Cucumber beetle, Squash bug, Aphids, Spider mites |
| Sweet Corn | Corn earworm, Armyworm, Mites, Seed corn maggot, Flea beetles, European corn borer, Cutworms |
| Solanaceous crops (including Pepper, Eggplant, Potato, Tomato) | Tomato fruitworm, Hornworm, Blister beetle, Flea beetles, Colorado potato beetle, Aphids, Spider mites, Stick bugs, Leaf-footed bugs, Leafhoppers, Cutworms |
| Okra | Aphids |
| Onion | Thrips |
| Peas | Aphids, Weevils |
This table can help you understand which pests may impact your vegetable garden and take appropriate preventative and control measures.
2. Does Vegetable Type Determine the Mesh Size of Insect Netting?
Choosing the mesh size of your insect netting mainly depends on the type of pests you want to prevent, not just the type of vegetables you are growing. But based on the relationship between different vegetables and common pests, here are some suggestions for choosing insect netting.
| Pest Size | Affected Vegetables | Mesh Size (Recommended ) |
| Small pests (such as Aphids, Thrips) | Leafy vegetables, Beans, Onions, etc | 0.6mm – 0.8mm |
| Medium pests (such as Leafhoppers, Small moths) | Cucurbits, Sweet corn, etc | 0.8mm – 1.0mm |
| Large pests (such as Butterflies, Moths, and Birds) | Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants, etc | 1.0mm – 1.4mm |
Conclusion
Picking the right insect netting for your plants is simple with the right information. This guide should help you make an informed choice. However, insect prevention is just one part of summer gardening. Unexpected weather, such as hailstorms and heavy rain, can also impact your garden. Be prepared for these events and ensure your plants have sun protection during hot days.
Remember, creating an ideal garden requires continuous learning and effort. Every aspect, from soil preparation and seed selection to daily care, is crucial. Learn from every step and in time, you’ll master the art of gardening.
