How to Protect Grape Vines From Birds

Birds can strip grapevines of their fruit within a matter of days.

For better or for worse, humans aren't the only animals who love grapes. Birds are one of the most common grape pests and can completely strip a grape arbor within days, leaving no fruit for gardeners. There are ways to minimize the damage birds cause. Which method works best depends upon the size of the crop. Paper bags work well for one or two grape vines; if more than two need protecting, netting is the best solution.

Things You'll Need

• Brown paper bags
• Wire and plastic twist ties
• Bird netting

Instructions

Paper Bags

1. Purchase brown paper bags -- the type sold for packing lunches. The bags should be relatively sturdy and thick.

2. Place a bag over each individual grape cluster while the fruit is only about half way mature. Grapes ripen when their leaves have direct sunlight, so the bags won't slow the ripening process.

3. Tie each bag securely in place with a wire and plastic twist tie. Rolls of this type of tying material are sold at gardening centers. Or you may reuse the wire and plastic twist ties sometimes found on grocery store bread loaves or in toy packaging.

4. Remove one or two bags every few days to check the grapes for ripeness. Color is a good indicator of ripeness, as is firmness, but the best way to know if grapes are ready for harvest is to taste them.

Netting

1. Purchase bird netting from a farm store or gardening center. You'll need enough to cover each grape arbor completely.

2. Cut pieces of netting with scissors so they are the correct size for each grape arbor.

3. Drape netting over each grape arbor, covering grape vines from top to bottom.

4. Secure the netting in place with wire and plastic twist ties or garden twine. Zip ties may also be used.

Tips & Warnings

• Visual repellents like plastic snakes, fake owls, hanging CDs, and hanging tin pie plates may keep birds away from grape vines for a short time. However, birds typically adapt to these repellents within a few days.

• Commercial grape growers sometimes use sophisticated sound repellents against birds, including recordings of distress calls from different types of fowl. According to the Ohio State University Extension, though, birds become acclimated to these noises. OSU Extension suggests using sound repellents "selectively with other control measures" like bird netting.

• If wild turkeys are the main threat to grapevines, the best method of deterring them is to install a high fence to keep them out of the vineyard or away from the grapevine. Turkeys can tear through bird netting.

References

• Ohio State University Extension: Midwest Grape Production Guide
• Purdue University Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture: Harvesting Grapes
• University of Minnesota Extension: Growing Grapes for Home Use