The insects were kind this year and mostly stuck to one cherry before moving onto the next. The birds get to eat whatever cherries are touching the netting, which is about 15 percent. Half a laundry basket is a good haul from one tree.

The drop bears ate all the Squirrels here long ago. I'm not sure what I would do about Squirrels apart from building a bird wire cage around the tree.

All I have to worry about is Starlings, Rainbow Lorikeets, Harlequin bugs and the odd Ladybug. Also a Summer hailstorm can ruin a whole season for a fruit tree if comes down hard enough.

I lose track of time but I think about 2007-2009 was when I put that one in. What I do know for sure is it it started bearing fruit 2 years later.

If you buy a decent gauge netting it will also help train your branches down into the willow-like droop that makes it easy to drag the net up over it each year.