This Is What Should You Know about Hail Netting
Prevention Rather than Reparation
Hail acts like the worst enemy of farmers and gardeners. It doesn’t spare any kind of crops. Anti-hail protection is the most important prevention in agriculture, and the only reliable one is hail netting. The greatest damage has been reported in orchards and vineyards, but vegetable gardens and flowers are in danger as well. Flower and fruit drops lead directly to lower productivity. Dropped fruits don’t have a value on the market and are dangerous for consummation. Even if the damaged fruits haven’t dropped from the tree, they are exposed to several serious infections. They also attract birds and insects that can make a further damage. It is extremely difficult to mitigate the consequences caused by hailstorms. Some plants will recover over time while the others should be excluded from the garden. The recovery of the orchard or another asset will hardly occur in the same season, and one will have to wait until the next one to gain the profit. To install hail netting on time, especially in the areas that are proven to be endangered by hailstorms, is the best way to protect your property and secure the successful harvest. Such installation is worth every penny since it minimizes flower and fruit drops and all associated risks. Where is no flower, there won’t be any fruit throughout the season. Such unnecessary loss could have been prevented and the profit saved.
![Hail Netting](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_lossy,ret_img,w_300,h_198/http://hail-netting.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Hail-netting.com_-300x198.jpg)
Important Parameters for Choosing a Quality Net
Not every anti-hail net is reliable and of a good-quality. There are some serious requirements the hail netting has to fulfill. UV stabilization is important. Weather changes throughout the season and the net is constantly exposed to different circumstances that affect its endurance. Sun rays can weaken the net and shorten its service life. As it is supposed to last for years, fully exposed to Sun, a proper UV stabilization is a must. Change of the net after a certain period of time is never a solution. Usually, farmers and growers count on the 5-years lifespan of the hail netting. Changing the net before that period rises expenses. In accordance with the proper installation and maintenance, the net may last even longer. The sign „gsm“ refers to the weight in grams per square meter of the net. The balance between the length and the weight is a key to create an adequate capacity. A net with gsm less than 50 is of a more affordable price, but its bearing capacity is considerably low. It will wear and tear in short, and you will have to replace it with the new one. However, the hail netting with a very high gsm over 80 is also available for a lower price, but it also performs an extra load on the plants. A huge disadvantage is a strong and expensive structure which has to support such a heavy net. The installation and removal of the net are not so simple operations either. Combined with a heavy wind, such net may sway trees and cause the fruit drop, the structure sometimes collapses, and light has been cut off resulting in disturbed growth.
![Hail netting installed in a crop field](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_lossy,ret_img,w_300,h_216/http://hail-netting.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Hail-netting.com1_-300x216.jpg)
Medium gsm Net in Neutral Color is the best Choice
Manufacturers and users over the world agree that medium gsm hail netting (between 60 and 80) is highly recommended. This hail protection net is cost-effective, easy to install and handle when it is no longer needed. Supporting structures are harmless to trees in excessive weather conditions, and they are also affordable. Some of them are made of bamboo. Unnecessarily load on trees and cut off light are not an issue. Colors vary from white to black and they perform differently under various conditions. Short-term benefits of the colored nets have been recognized, but the growing conditions vary within countries and across the world, and there is no specific evidence in favor of any color. Over time, neutral color nets don’t affect ripening of the plants since they don’t cut off light. Light is of utmost importance for the growth of the plants and fruits, and any lack of it consequently diminishes the quality of the yield. Neutral color netting is transparent, providing the optimum of shade factor which is 15-20%. Other colors cut off the light in the bigger percentage of 25-40%. The unbiased advice is to use transparent hail netting.
![Crop field with hail netting](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_lossy,ret_img,w_300,h_240/http://hail-netting.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Hail-netting.com2_-300x240.jpg)
Hail Netting Patterns
Speaking of the weave patterns, there are two main options. Square/rectangular and crossover/angular patterns are most commonly used. A wide square/rectangular mesh accumulate hail easily in a short period of time but if it is small, it is soon to become too heavy and cuts off the light. During heavy storms, it can develop huge gaps below the hail accumulation. The more encouraging result offers the crossover/angular mesh which doesn’t allow hail to accumulate. It slips down since the netting has a higher load-bearing capacity. The quality net has to have filaments of uniform thickness to perform the highest physical and mechanical capabilities. Only the cutting edge technology and super quality raw material can provide a solid yarn. Once you decide to install the net it is supposed to serve your crop for years. The bigger the quality the better the result. Hail netting is a kind of crop net that protects from hail and bird pests at the same time. Only the reputable manufacturers can guarantee for their products since they test them in the special facilities under controlled conditions that are similar to those the net will experience while serving in the field. The basic product requirement is to hold out the heaviest hail storms without collapsing and putting the crops into a danger. Preserving the plants throughout the growing season secures the harvest and productivity.
Hi, this is a comment.
To get started with moderating, editing, and deleting comments, please visit the Comments screen in the dashboard.
Commenter avatars come from Gravatar.