7 common mistakes when installing anti-hail netting

Anti-hail netting is a significant investment. Properly installed, it can protect your harvest for more than 10 years. Poorly installed, it can start to fail in just two seasons. At Novafrut we have been installing netting on fruit farms all over Spain for more than 20 years, and we have seen it all. That is why we have put together the most common mistakes in agricultural anti-hail netting installations and how to avoid them.

1. Choosing materials without a guarantee or proper treatment

🔴 Mistake: using low-quality or uncertified nets, posts or cables. 🎯 Solution: use nets with 950 kly UV protection, Class 4 SP treated posts and triple-galvanised steel cables like Novafrut's. Anything cheap ends up being expensive.

2. Exceeding the maximum distance between posts

🔴 Mistake: increasing the spacing between posts to cut costs. 🎯 Solution: always follow the technical calculation. At Novafrut we never exceed 40 m² of netting supported between posts, which also meets Agroseguro's requirements.

3. Not tensioning the net correctly

🔴 Mistake: uneven tension or a lack of suitable tensioners. 🎯 Solution: we use professional tensioners and re-tension both transversely and longitudinally. This immobilises the net and prevents tears or collapses.

4. Not planning the folding system

🔴 Mistake: installing a system without thinking about maintenance. 🎯 Solution: all our systems include Winterfix, which lets you fold the net from the ground with a pole, without annual dismantling or machinery.

5. Not adapting the system to the farm's topography

🔴 Mistake: copying a generic system without considering the actual geometry or slope. 🎯 Solution: at Novafrut we carry out a GPS land survey on every project so that the system adapts to the farm, and not the other way round.

6. Underestimating the wind

🔴 Mistake: thinking only about hail and not about gusts of wind. 🎯 Solution: we combine anti-hail netting with windbreak netting if the surroundings require it. In addition, good tensioning and the right cables ensure stability.

7. Not paying attention to finishing details

🔴 Mistake: badly tied knots, poorly finished cuts or loose slings. 🎯 Solution: at Novafrut we always finish with knots on the top cable, preventing chafing and ensuring even tension for years.

Do you want to avoid these mistakes in your installation?

Contact us. Let a specialised team advise you and design an installation that really protects your farm.