7 Best Trellis Netting Applicators For Cucumbers to Save Time

There’s a moment every season when you stare at a freshly installed row of T-posts and feel a sense of dread, because you know what comes next: the netting. Wrestling with a 300-foot roll of trellis netting, watching it snag on every post and tangle into a hopeless knot, can turn a half-hour job into a frustrating half-day ordeal. A good netting applicator transforms this task from a major bottleneck into a smooth, quick, and even satisfying process.

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Why Use a Netting Applicator for Cucumbers?

The core problem with installing trellis netting by hand is chaos. It’s a floppy, snag-prone material that seems designed to create tangles. Doing it alone is nearly impossible, and even with two people, you spend most of your time walking back and forth, untwisting the net from itself.

A netting applicator brings order to that chaos. It keeps the roll of netting contained and dispenses it under consistent, manageable tension. This simple mechanical advantage allows one person to do the work of two, and two people to work with incredible speed. You walk the line once, clipping as you go, and the job is done.

This isn’t just about saving an hour. It’s about preserving your energy and morale for the dozens of other tasks waiting for you. When you can knock out a 200-foot row of trellis in 15 minutes instead of 90, you gain precious time for weeding, scouting for cucumber beetles, or getting the irrigation set up. It’s a tool that buys back your most limited resource.

Andros Engineering Net Layer for Small Plots

For the hobby farmer with a compact tractor, the Andros Net Layer is a serious step up in efficiency. This isn’t a handheld gadget; it’s a proper implement that mounts to a three-point hitch. It’s designed to lay netting vertically for trellising systems with speed and precision.

The operation is straightforward. You drive the tractor slowly down your row of posts, and the implement unspools the netting exactly where you need it. The tension is perfect, the height is consistent, and a job that would take a team an afternoon is finished before your coffee gets cold. It’s a professional solution scaled down for smaller operations.

The obvious consideration here is the tractor requirement. This tool is for growers who are already mechanized and see the value in leveraging that investment. If you’re managing a half-acre or more of trellised crops, the time savings can justify the cost very quickly, turning a major labor cost into a simple, repeatable system.

Terrateck Horti-Netting Layer: Walk-Behind

The Terrateck Horti-Netting Layer occupies a brilliant middle ground. It offers professional, one-person efficiency without demanding a tractor. This walk-behind tool is perfect for market gardeners or serious hobbyists who have long, straight rows but work primarily on the human scale.

You simply load a roll of netting onto the device and push it down the row. The frame holds the roll and dispenses the netting smoothly, allowing you to clip it to your posts or wires as you walk. The design is ergonomic, eliminating the need to bend, stretch, or fight with a tangled mess on the ground. It turns a frustrating task into a steady, rhythmic walk.

This tool represents an investment in your body and your time. It’s not the cheapest option, but it’s built for daily use and will last for years. For growers with several hundred feet of trellis, it’s a game-changer that makes a solo operation far more viable.

The Farmer’s Friend Manual Netting Roller

The Manual Netting Roller from Farmer’s Friend is one of the most popular and practical tools for a reason: it’s simple, effective, and affordable. It consists of a spindle for the netting roll attached to a comfortable handle. It brilliantly solves the core problem of tangling and makes the two-person installation process incredibly smooth.

While it’s designed as a two-person tool, it perfects that process. One person holds the roller and walks the row, while the second person holds the leading edge of the net and clips it to the posts. The roller keeps the net from falling to the ground and provides just enough friction to maintain light tension.

This isn’t a one-person solution, but it makes the two-person job five times faster and a hundred times less frustrating. It’s the ideal choice for a husband-and-wife team or anyone who regularly has a helper. For the price, it delivers an enormous improvement in workflow and is a must-have for anyone with more than 100 feet of trellis to install.

Sutton Ag U-Handle for Low Trellis Setups

Not all cucumber trellises are tall, vertical walls. Many growers use lower, angled, or A-frame systems, especially for pickling varieties. The Sutton Ag U-Handle is a specialized tool designed specifically for these lower-to-the-ground applications.

Its unique U-shaped handle allows the operator to hold the tool comfortably while walking, dispensing the netting at a height of just a few feet off the ground. This avoids the awkward stooping and bending required when using a standard straight-handled applicator for a low trellis. It’s an ergonomic solution for a specific problem.

This is a niche tool, but for those who have standardized their production around low trellises, it’s invaluable. If you’re constantly fighting back pain from setting up slanted or A-frame systems, this applicator is designed just for you. It’s a prime example of how the right tool for a specific system can make all the difference.

Mechanical Transplanter Co. Model 95 Netter

The Model 95 Netter from Mechanical Transplanter Co. is another tractor-mounted option, known for its rugged, no-frills construction. This is a heavy-duty piece of equipment built to be mounted on a standard farm toolbar. It’s pure function over form.

Like other tractor-mounted systems, it allows a single operator to deploy hundreds of feet of netting in minutes. Because it’s designed for a standard toolbar, it can often be combined with other implements, like a bed shaper or drip tape layer, allowing you to perform multiple tasks in a single pass.

This tool is best suited for a grower who is already using a toolbar system for other cultivation tasks. It’s likely overkill for someone with just a few rows of cucumbers. But if you’re managing a diverse market garden with a tractor and a toolbar, this simple, robust netter is an easy and durable addition to your system.

Agri-Fab Handheld Net Spooler for Short Rows

Sometimes you don’t need a complex applicator; you just need to stop the net from turning into a bird’s nest. The Agri-Fab Handheld Net Spooler is a basic, budget-friendly tool that does just that. It’s essentially a simple plastic spool with a handle for winding.

You manually wind your netting onto the spool before you head to the garden. In the field, you can then easily unspool it by hand as you walk the row. It doesn’t offer the tensioning or ergonomic benefits of more advanced applicators, but it masterfully solves the number one problem: tangling.

This is the perfect entry-level tool for a backyard gardener or a hobbyist with only a few, shorter rows (under 50 feet). It’s a huge step up from wrestling with a loose pile of netting and costs very little. It’s an organizational tool that prevents the biggest headache of the job.

Building a PVC Pipe DIY Netting Applicator

The spirit of a hobby farmer often includes a bit of ingenuity. For a fraction of the cost of a commercial tool, you can build a highly effective netting applicator from materials found at any hardware store. The design is simple and requires no special skills.

The basic concept involves a length of 2-inch or 3-inch PVC pipe that acts as the core for the netting roll.

• Get a piece of PVC pipe about 6 inches wider than your netting roll.
• Drill a hole through the center of two PVC end caps.
• Run a piece of threaded rod or a smaller diameter pipe through the caps to act as an axle and attach handles.

This DIY version functions just like the Farmer’s Friend roller. One person can hold the handles and walk while the PVC pipe spins freely, dispensing the net without tangles. You can build one in under an hour for less than $20.

The tradeoff is durability and refinement. It might not be as smooth or last as many seasons as a steel-fabricated tool. But for solving an immediate problem with materials on hand, or for those who simply enjoy building their own solutions, the DIY PVC applicator is a fantastic and practical option.

Ultimately, the goal is to get your cucumbers climbing, not to fight with your equipment. Whether you invest in a walk-behind unit, build your own PVC roller, or stick with a simple handheld spool, the right applicator does more than save time. It removes a point of friction in your season, letting you focus on the rewarding work of growing great food.