[Rampant_Weasel]

after beating the cabbage white  problem my sprouts have been decimated with aphid and  mealy bugs so im making a cage to fix enviromesh to.
my question is the best way to fix enviromesh to wood?
would u use glue or staples or some other method?

[mikeguitar]

I used plastic adjustable cable ties on a small framework

[intraclast]

Make sure that your environmesh cage does not have  a flat roof.  We made this mistake and when it rained the water pooled on the top and dripped through the environmesh, all in the same place causing splash damaged to plants and soil.

Also when we tried again and created a domed structure to hide our brassicas in, some aphids managed to sneak in, but the beneficial aphid eaters weren't able to get in, needless to say the aphids had a field day!  We have given up trying to cover our brassicas for this coming year, to see if we get on any better.

[Fisherman]

I made a wooden frame drilled with 15mm holes which plastic hoops were inserted. The enviromesh was laid on top of the hoops and then stapled to the wooden frame along all 4 sides using heavy duty staples. They are used on raised beds which have been in place for over a year but I guess I may have to re-staple the mesh this spring. They have been good in all weather but collapsed under the heavy snow recently. Once the snow was cleared off them they soon went back to their original shape.

Don't build any fires to close to them as I had a bad experience with a fire 10 Mts. or so away when some ash blew onto the enviromesh and burnt holes through it.

I haven't had any problems with caterpillars or aphids on the brassicas underneath the mesh but have had problems with what I think are Dart Moth Caterpillars. How they get under the mesh is a mystery to me!

[Rampant_Weasel]

sounds good fisherman, do u have a photo please?
if it stopped the aphids thats the main thing.if u had caterpillars under there, maybe they overwintered?

[Fisherman]

Well RW with a bit of luck there will be a photo attached.

[noshed]

If you haven't got raised beds you can just push hoops of water pipe onto bamboo sticks and drape the enviromesh over that. Hold down with 4 pint milk cartons filled with water (less damaging than bricks).

[compostqueen]

I have had good results with Enviromesh. I have bought it in smallish pieces as and when I can afford it.  I just drape it over the veg and weigh it down with water bottles or bricks.  Not very fancy but it does the job 

[Rampant_Weasel]

thx for the info, i shall use staples i think.just the finish i was looking for, of course ill have to make it a bit taller for sprouts 

[DD.]

If you use staples staple it through a stip cut out of a plastic milk carton. This will prevent the staple ripping through the mesh.

[Rampant_Weasel]

thx, good tip