Bird damage often becomes visible as tomatoes begin to color. At first, it may be limited to a few pecked fruits or one edge of the block. As more fruit ripens, crews may have more damaged tomatoes to sort, and the affected rows need closer attention.
Waiting until birds are already feeding in the crop can make netting harder to install. The work may interfere with picking, irrigation, and daily movement through the rows. It is usually better to decide early whether the damage justifies a cover, then plan the netting around the way the crop is grown and harvested.
For tomato projects, the main decisions are how serious the bird problem is, what area needs to be covered, how harvest crews will enter, and which mesh and fixing method suit the site. This guide explains those decisions in the order they are normally made.
Does the tomato block need bird netting?
Start by checking whether bird damage is serious enough to justify a physical cover. As fruit begins to ripen, note when damage appears and where it is concentrated. UC IPM’s guidance on birds in fruit crops recommends checking damaged or dropped fruit as ripening begins, and recording the species, number, and location of birds during the season.
The same record can help tomato growers understand whether the problem is occasional or recurring. Note the affected area, harvest stage, and nearby crop edge or entrance. A small amount of occasional damage may only call for local or short-term coverage. Repeated losses during harvest, especially when they add sorting work, are a stronger reason to plan a bird-netting system.
Plan the coverage around rows, access, and harvest
The next question is how much of the crop needs covering: a local fruit area, one row, several continuous rows, or the full planting area. This decision affects the support structure, the size of each net section, and how people and equipment move through the crop.
A small trial area may only need a simple frame around one row. Continuous tomato rows can use supports between rows or a tunnel-style frame with sections that open for work. Larger projects usually need an overhead or divided structure, planned access routes, and a clear routine for opening and closing the netting during harvest.
Netting installed on a support system
Netting that rests directly on fruit or plants may still leave the crop within reach of birds. It can also make picking more difficult. A cover may look complete from a distance but still fail if the edges, middle sections, or entrances are left open. Keeping the net clear of the crop and properly closing the perimeter are usually more important than copying a particular orchard structure.
A tunnel support can work for tomato rows that need a self-contained cover and regular access. An overhead structure may be more suitable where several rows or a whole block need protection. The following image shows an overhead system in a vineyard, not a tomato project, but it illustrates the type of coverage used for a larger planted area.
Overhead bird-netting structure; the photo shows a vineyard, not a tomato project.
| Growing situation | Coverage approach to consider | First site question |
|---|---|---|
| Small trial area or local bird damage | Single-row or local frame coverage | Can the net stay clear of the fruit, and can the edge be closed again after access? |
| Continuous tomato rows | Draped netting on row supports or a tunnel frame, with sections that can be opened | Where will harvest crews enter, and will the net interfere with drip lines, training, or pruning? |
| Large commercial planting | Overhead or divided coverage structure | Who is responsible for span, fixing points, local wind conditions, access, and maintenance? |
Mesh selection depends on the target birds and cover layout
Mesh should be selected after the coverage method is clear. The birds causing damage, their likely entry route, the fixing method, and local wildlife-safety rules can all affect the right choice. There is no single mesh size that suits every tomato project.
Agricultural anti-bird netting material
| Reference situation | What it shows | How to use it for tomatoes |
|---|---|---|
| Small orchards or isolated fruit trees | 1/4–1/2 inch plastic mesh, used with a frame that keeps the net away from the canopy, can limit bird access to ripening fruit. | This is an orchard and vine example. It shows that mesh and support need to be considered together. It does not provide one standard size for tomatoes. |
| Exclusion by target bird species | USDA APHIS says mesh size depends on the birds you want to keep out. Its guide gives 3/4 inch netting as an example that keeps out most pest birds. It also considers whether birds arrive from above or ground level. | Before asking for a quote, identify the main bird species and likely entry points. Then state whether the plan needs overhead coverage, side enclosure, or both. |
| Projects with wildlife-safety requirements | Keep the net taut and clear of the crop. Check it often and repair damage quickly to help reduce entanglement risk. | Avoid loose, easily tangled coverage. Where local wildlife rules apply, confirm them before choosing the mesh and fixing details. |
When requesting a quote, share the target birds, coverage area, likely entry points, and the way the net must open at harvest. These details help match the mesh, net construction, and fixing method. A smaller mesh can change handling, opening, and airflow. A lighter net can be easier to handle. It still has to suit the span, fixing points, and local wind conditions.
Edges and access routes need a working routine
The netting system has to keep working while crews and equipment move through the crop. During harvest, a loose edge, a sagging fixing point, or an entrance left open can give birds a route into the block. Poorly installed netting can also trap birds or cause damage to the material.
Put these details into the installation plan:
- Where the edges will be fixed and who checks them each day.
- Where people, carts, and harvest bins enter, and how each opening is closed again.
- Who can stop work and arrange repairs after high wind, sagging, or damage.
- Whether irrigation, training, pruning, and harvest need sections of netting to open separately.
These arrangements help the net work when fruit is most exposed. They also give harvest crews a clear process for closing openings and reporting damage.
Check the netting throughout harvest
Inspect the net and its fixing points regularly during harvest. Look for loose edges, tears, netting resting on the crop, and birds or other small animals caught in the material. Repairing a damaged section early is usually easier than dealing with birds after they find an opening.
Keep the net taut, clear of the crop, and included in the normal harvest check routine. Where wildlife-safety rules apply, confirm the local requirements before installation.
Information suppliers need for a tomato bird-netting quote
A quote is easier to compare when the bird problem, coverage method, mesh conditions, and harvest routine are already defined. Suppliers will normally need the coverage dimensions, existing greenhouse or support structure, bird-damage season, expected use period, and the way people and equipment enter the growing area.
For whole-area projects, also provide local wind conditions, intended fixing locations, any divided openings, required product or test documents, and the delivery schedule.
| Information to provide | Why a supplier needs it |
|---|---|
| Target birds and damaged areas | To understand the bird problem and focus on mesh and edge treatment. |
| Row length, width, coverage area, and existing structure | To plan net width, joining, span, and fixing methods. |
| Harvest method and access routes | To plan openings, sections, and daily resetting. |
| Season of use, wind conditions, and expected use period | To discuss net construction, fixing, and maintenance needs. |
| Required product documents and delivery time | To align specifications, available documents, and the project schedule in one quote. |
When comparing quotes, confirm the mesh and net construction included, the suggested fixing method, the planned coverage area, available product or test documents, and whether bulk supply can meet the schedule. For product information, see INSONSHADE agricultural bird netting.
Choose bird netting around the project conditions
Bird netting is most useful where bird damage returns during ripening and harvest, and where the project can manage its edges, access routes, and regular checks. Compare mesh in the context of the target birds, cover structure, and harvest method rather than selecting it on its own.
For a larger project, prepare the growing area, existing structure, bird-damage timing, and harvest routine before asking for a quote. INSONSHADE can then help compare bird-netting specifications, fixing options, and supply arrangements. If the crop also faces other risks, see our tomato netting guide for wider protection options.