Quick verdict
A 23 by 23 foot net with edging, perforations and hook-and-loop straps that spreads under a tree or hangs from its branches to catch falling walnuts, chestnuts, plums, olives and apples, with a collecting bag for gathering them up. Fruit that lands on the net is clean and unbruised instead of lost in grass; shake the tree and the harvest is done in minutes. It is an unbranded net, so check the mesh and edging on arrival. Size suits one mature tree.
Strengths
- Catches falling fruit and nuts clean and unbruised
- Twenty-three foot square covers a mature tree canopy
- Lays on the ground or hangs from branches with the straps
- Collecting bag included for gathering
- Reusable season after season
Weaknesses
- Unbranded; mesh and stitching quality vary
- Large net is awkward to spread and fold alone
- Perforations let very small fruit through
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Let the Tree Do the Picking
Walnuts, chestnuts, plums and olives come down on their own, into long grass where they bruise, rot and hide. A net under the tree catches them clean. This 23 by 23 foot collector net spreads on the ground or hangs from branches by its hook-and-loop straps, with reinforced edging and a collecting bag, and turns a week of stooping into a shake and a gather.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how fruit drop nets are used in home orchards generally. We have not used this net ourselves and the product is unbranded.
On the Ground
Spread the net under the canopy as the fruit ripens and weight the edges with stones. Fruit drops onto the net instead of the grass. Each morning, or after shaking the tree, lift the corners so the harvest rolls to the middle, then scoop it into the bag. Nuts stay clean and dry, plums stay unbruised and nothing is lost in the lawn.
Hung
Tie the straps to lower branches or stakes so the net hangs a few feet up with a dip in the centre. Fruit lands on the mesh, rolls to the low point and never touches soil, which matters for olives and for anything the slugs would find overnight. The perforations let rain through so water does not pool.
Size
Twenty-three feet square covers one mature tree with a canopy up to about 20 feet across. For a bigger walnut, overlap two nets. For a small plum, fold it.
Quality
The net is unbranded. Check the mesh, stitching and strap attachments when it arrives, keep it away from thorns and dead stubs that snag, and fold it dry. Treated that way, drop nets last many seasons.
Who Should Buy It
- Owners of walnut, chestnut and hazelnut trees.
- Plum and olive growers tired of ground-gathering.
- Anyone with a tree over lawn where fallen fruit is wasted.
Common Owner Complaints
Handling a big net alone and variable stitching. A helper and a check on arrival.
Timing
Spread the net when the first fruit begins to fall on its own and leave it through the drop. For nuts, gather daily so squirrels do not get there first; for plums and apples, gather every morning before wasps find the fallen fruit. Shaking the tree once the drop has started brings down the ripe fruit together and shortens the harvest to a few days.
Alternatives to Consider
The Brivoxine 13 by 13 foot HDPE net is a smaller, branded option for one small tree. A nut wizard roller gathers nuts from grass without a net. A tarp is the free, less tidy version.
Verdict
For a tree that drops its crop, a catch net is the lazy, clean and efficient harvest, and this large square covers a mature tree for little money. Inspect it on arrival, keep it off thorns and let gravity work.
Full specifications
23 x 23 Foot Reusable Fruit Collector Harvesting Net with Hook and Loop Straps and Collecting Bag FAQs
Spread the net under the canopy before the fruit falls, weight the edges, and shake or let the fruit drop. Gather the corners to roll the harvest to the middle and bag it.
Tie the straps to lower branches or stakes so the net is suspended a few feet above ground with a dip in the middle. Fruit rolls to the low point and stays off the soil.
One mature walnut, plum or apple with a canopy up to about 20 feet across. Overlap two nets for bigger trees.
The edging takes the strain. Keep it off thorns and sharp stubs and fold it dry for storage.
