What Can I Use as Insect Netting?

Insect netting is an essential tool for protecting plants, crops, and living spaces from unwanted pests while maintaining airflow and light exposure. Depending on your specific application—whether gardening, agriculture, or home use—several effective options are available, each with distinct characteristics and advantages.

Very fine mesh, often marketed as insect-proof mesh or pest exclusion netting, represents the most effective and versatile option for most applications. This material typically features apertures (holes) small enough—usually between 0.6mm and 1.0mm—to exclude even tiny insects like thrips, aphids, and whiteflies while still allowing adequate airflow and light penetration.

For gardening and agricultural use, fine mesh netting offers several benefits:

• Physical barrier: Preinsects from reaching plants without chemicals
• Microclimate creation: Slightly moderates temperature and humidity beneath the mesh
• UV stabilization: Quality netting resists degradation from sunlight exposure

Horticultural fleece—also called floating row cover or garden fabric—is a lightweight, spun-bonded polyester or polypropylene material that provides both insect protection and frost defense. Unlike mesh, fleece allows air and moisture to penetrate while blocking pests. It is particularly useful for:

• Protecting seedlings from flea beetles and cabbage moths
• Extending growing seasons by providing several degrees of frost protection
• Creating a barrier against wind and heavy rain

Fleece is available in various weights, with lighter grades (17 gsm) offering better light transmission and heavier grades providing more protection.

For most gardening applications, fine insect-proof mesh (0.6-1.0mm aperture) offers the best combination of pest exclusion, durability, and ease of use. For frost-sensitive crops or season extension, horticultural fleece provides added thermal protection. Whichever material you choose, remember that proper installation—particularly securing edges by burying or anchoring—is essential for creating a truly effective barrier against insects.