6 Best Burlap Nettings for Predator Protection

You walk out to your garden one morning and see it: neat rows of lettuce nibbled to the nub, young bean sprouts vanished without a trace. Or maybe you hear a commotion from the chicken coop, a tell-tale sign that a raccoon has been testing your defenses again. Before you invest in expensive electric fencing or complicated traps, consider the solution that’s protected small farms for generations: simple, effective burlap.

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Why Burlap Remains a Top Choice for Fencing

Burlap works because it’s more than just a physical barrier. Its coget=”_blank”>arse texture and opaque nature create a powerful visual and sensory deterrent. A deer that can’t see the tender greens on the other side is far less likely to try jumping a fence, and a fox might hesitate to push through a barrier it can’t see through.

This material is the definition of versatile. You can stretch it between T-posts for a quick garden fence, drape it over berry bushes to stop birds, or wrap it around the base of young trees to prevent rabbits from girdling the bark in winter. It’s also a fantastic windbreak for sensitive plants and provides dappled shade during a heatwave, pulling double or triple duty on the homestead.

Many folks immediately think of wire mesh, but burlap has its own advantages. It’s often cheaper per foot, much easier to handle without thick gloves, and won’t rust. Plus, when it eventually wears out, natural burlap can go straight into the compost pile, breaking down and enriching the very soil it once protected. It’s a low-tech, high-impact tool that fits the sustainable mindset of a well-run hobby farm.

Agri-Jute Heavy-Duty: For Persistent Pests

When you’re dealing with animals that push, chew, or claw, you need something with serious heft. Agri-Jute Heavy-Duty is exactly that. The fibers are thick and the weave is exceptionally coarse, creating a tough, intimidating fabric that resists tearing.

This is the burlap you use for the perimeter of a chicken run where raccoons are a known problem or along a garden edge frequented by stubborn deer. The material is so rugged that most pests find it’s not worth the effort to try and breach it. It’s a physical stop sign for anything bigger than a rabbit.

The tradeoff is weight and light transmission. This stuff is heavy to haul and hang, and it blocks a significant amount of sunlight, making it unsuitable for draping directly over sun-loving plants. Think of it as your outer wall—strong, imposing, and built for defense against determined threats.

Farmstead Fibers: A Tighter, Denser Weave

Don’t confuse density with thickness. Farmstead Fibers specializes in a burlap with a much tighter weave, closing the gaps that smaller pests exploit. While a heavy-duty burlap might stop a deer, a bird could still poke its beak through the loose weave to steal a berry.

This tighter weave is your best defense against smaller marauders. It’s perfect for creating covers for cold frames to keep out curious squirrels or for fencing off a patch of strawberries from birds and chipmunks. The holes are simply too small for them to get a beak or claw through, forcing them to move on to an easier target.

Because of its density, this type of burlap also serves as an excellent weed barrier when laid on the ground. It blocks light effectively but still allows water to penetrate. This makes it a multi-purpose workhorse for the vegetable garden, capable of protecting your crops from above and below.

TerraGuard Natural Burlap for Organic Gardens

If you’re committed to organic practices, what your fencing is made of matters. TerraGuard Natural Burlap is specifically marketed as 100% natural and untreated, meaning no chemical residues, petroleum-based treatments, or synthetic dyes will leach into your soil.

This is the top choice when the burlap will be in direct contact with the ground or your plants. Use it to mulch around potato plants, wrap the trunks of your organic fruit trees, or create a temporary fence where you plan to rotate crops next season. You get peace of mind knowing your soil biology remains undisturbed.

The obvious consideration here is longevity. Untreated burlap will biodegrade much faster, especially in wet conditions. Don’t expect a TerraGuard fence to last for five years. View it as a seasonal tool that becomes part of your farm’s nutrient cycle when it’s done, turning from protector to compost.

YardGarde Pro Sheeting: Covering Large Areas

Sometimes the challenge isn’t the strength of the pest, but the size of the area you need to protect. YardGarde Pro Sheeting comes in extra-wide bolts, allowing you to cover large spaces with fewer seams. Instead of stitching together multiple 3-foot rolls, you can drape a single 12-foot sheet.

This is the ideal solution for protecting a long, newly seeded lawn from birds or for creating a "roof" over a row of blueberry bushes. Fewer seams mean fewer potential weak points for a clever pest to find and exploit. It’s about working smarter, not harder, when you have a lot of ground to cover.

Handling these large sheets can be tricky, so it’s often a two-person job to get them situated without snagging. But the time saved in installation and the superior coverage it provides make it an invaluable option for bigger projects.

Old Mill Burlap: Weather-Resistant Treatment

For semi-permanent installations, you need a burlap that can stand up to the elements. Old Mill Burlap is typically treated with a light, rot-resistant compound, often a mineral oil or similar water-repellent, that helps it shed moisture and resist mildew.

This is the burlap you choose for a windbreak on the exposed side of a greenhouse or a privacy screen along a fence line that you want to last for several seasons. It strikes a balance between the natural feel of burlap and the durability needed for a fixture that you don’t want to replace every single year.

It’s crucial to know what the treatment is, as some may not be suitable for certified organic use. However, for general homesteading, this added durability is a practical advantage. It’s a pragmatic choice for when longevity is a higher priority than rapid biodegradability.

Evergreen Burlap Rolls: A Lighter-Weight Option

Not every problem requires a heavy-duty solution. Evergreen Burlap is the lighter, more affordable option you find at most garden centers. Its weave is looser and the fabric is thinner, making it easy to cut and handle.

This isn’t for stopping a determined raccoon. Instead, it excels at lower-stakes jobs. Use it to gently shade new transplants from scorching sun, wrap a delicate shrub to protect it from ice damage, or create a simple visual barrier to keep your own chickens out of a flower bed.

Think of this as your high-volume, everyday burlap. Its low cost and ease of use mean you won’t hesitate to cut off a piece for a quick fix. Having a roll on hand saves your more expensive, specialized burlap for the jobs that truly demand it.

Securing Your Burlap Netting for Best Results

The best burlap in the world is useless if it’s installed poorly. A loose, sagging burlap fence is just a minor inconvenience to a pest, not a real barrier. The secret to success is tension and ground contact.

Use sturdy posts—metal T-posts or 2×2 wood stakes work well—and space them close enough to prevent sagging, typically every 6 to 8 feet. Pull the burlap taut as you attach it with zip ties, staples, or twine. Secure it at the top, middle, and bottom of each post to distribute the tension evenly.

For anything that digs, from rabbits to groundhogs, securing the bottom edge is non-negotiable. You have two good options:

• Dig a 6-inch trench and bury the bottom of the burlap.
• Lay the bottom 8-10 inches flat on the ground, facing outward from the garden, and pin it down securely with landscape staples.

Most fence failures happen at ground level. A determined animal will always test the bottom edge first. Don’t skip this final, crucial step.

Burlap isn’t a single product, but a versatile category of solutions. By matching the right type of burlap—heavy or light, treated or natural, wide or narrow—to your specific pest and purpose, you can deploy an effective, affordable, and sustainable defense for your garden and livestock. It’s a classic tool that has earned its place on the farm for a reason.