How to Build a Blueberry Cage

Blueberries are attractive to wild animals, including birds, squirrels and rabbits. To enjoy a full harvest, you must protect your plants and fruit from these pests with a wire cage and bird netting. The rabbits enjoy eating the bark of the plants during the off-season, but the ripe berries are the target of the birds. Because blueberry plants are the focus of one pest or another year round, you must use the cages all year.

Wooden stakes
Sledge hammer
1-inch chicken wire
Wire ties or staple gun and staples
Wire cutters
Bird or mosquito netting
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Drive 1-inch wide wooden stakes 1 to 3 feet into the ground around the blueberry bush with a sledge hammer. The stakes should stand a few inches taller than the bush when installed. Create a circle with the stakes that is a few inches larger than the bush so the bush is fully enclosed with room to grow.
- 2
  Wrap 1-inch chicken wire around the outside of the stakes, stretching the wire from one stake to the next to complete the enclosure. Secure the wire to the stakes with wire ties, or heavy-duty staples from a staple gun. Use wire cutters as needed to fit the chicken wire around the stakes.
- 3
  Drape mosquito or bird netting over the wire cage as the berries begin to develop. Allow the bush to bloom and insects to pollinate the flowers before draping the netting. If you use the netting too early, no berries will develop. When the flowers begin to fade and drop from the bush, add the netting to protect the berries from the birds. Remove the netting to harvest the berries.

Wasps Eating Blueberry Blossoms

Commercial Blueberry Varieties

Growing Blueberries