If you’ve ever tried to grow soft fruits out in the open then you’ll know that birds of all shapes and sizes love delicious ripe berries just as much as we do.
A Peak Roof Decorative Steel Fruit Cage is £648 from Harrod Horticultural.
A fruit cage is a rigid structure that’s shrouded in bird proof netting. Designer Whyte has just installed square steel fruit cages into a walled garden project in Suffolk, England; he asked local firm Harrod Horticultural to powder coat them in a dark gray to soften the effect.
What is a fruit cage?
“A handmade pair of fruit cages, made out of seasoned oak, crafted in our Dorset workshop,” says Sellick & Saxton.
What are the best materials for a fruit cage?
Off-the-shelf cages tend to be made from aluminum, powder coated steel or, for a more rustic look, timber—all of which are usually sold in kits that are easy to assemble yourself at home if you have basic DIY skills.
A Slot & Lock Aluminium Strawberry Cage “will be the cause of many aborted strawberry-thieving missions by frustrated birds,” notes Harrod Horticultural, which sells the fruit cage for £39.
Ready made kits are ideal if you don’t have much time but the basic structure of a fruit cage is also very easy to make using any wooden poles—and will cost a fraction of the price.
Can I make a DIY fruit cage?
A Roman Fruit Cage in traditional gloss black is made of galvanized steel and at its peak is 10 feet high; £713 at Agriframes.
What is the best kind of netting for a fruit cage?
You can use a variety of netting depending on the wildlife around your garden and what you want to keep out—there is specific netting for birds, rabbits, deer and even butterflies.
A large Storm Proof Crop Cage is $349 from My Pots and Planters.
What size fruit cage should I choose?
Fruit cages come in all shapes and sizes from low cages for strawberries and smaller bushes to vast walk-in cages that will protect fruits grown on a big scale so you need to consider not only the amount of space you have to dedicate to growing but also how much you actually want to grow.
A small, portable Crop Cage has zippered doors; $99.95 from Gardener’s.
How long will a fruit cage last?
Metal frames should last for decades, even if your netting needs to replaced over time but timber frames will, of course, rot eventually—but it’s easy to replace any damaged or weathered parts.
Fruit Cage Mushroom Caps (£1.40 apiece) and other replacement parts and accessories are available at William James & Co.
Prepare the ground before you install the structure; you will have more room to maneuver if you want to rototill or dig over the ground. Taller bushes like raspberries will also need supporting wires so plan these before you do ground preparation.
What else do I need to know about fruit cages?