What is fleece?

[Annadl]

I am so new to this I feel really silly asking but what is fleece?

How is it different to netting and for what plants and reasons is it used for?

There is so much on this site I can't drag myself away from it sometimes. :)

Absolutely fantastic and thanks for any replies.    Anna

[Annadl]

[Gardenantics]

Dear Anna,

Fleese is a very light non-woven fabric that allows light through it, and offers protection from wind, and frost when it is around. It can also be left over a crop all the growing season to keep pests off the plants, but slack must be allowed for to enable the plants to grow freely. Can be used to keep birds off your fruit too.
Hope that helps.
Brian

[Annadl]

Thanks Brian

So being from Western Australia where it doesn't snow and get icy (even though we do get 2-4 degrees at night during winter) I won't need it?

Is it used for below zero temperatures?

Howzat for a silly question.  I really don't know.

Anna :-[

[Gardenantics]

yes Anna, it will protect against 3or4 degrees of frost I think they quote, I use it to drape over plants in cold frames that I want to protect. I guess a fleece over there runs around on four legs eating grass and going baaa!

Brian

[Svea]

welcome anna :)

check this thread: http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,8023.0.html

for pictures of what fleece looks like, and how it can be used.

[rosebud]

Welcome Annadl, hope you like it here all are very helpful ;D ;D ;D.

[wardy]

If you can't afford fleece I use old bits of net curtain to throw over my delicate plants (hydrangea etc) and vulnerable veggies in pots etc.   :)

[daveandtara]

hi by the way, nice to meet you,
fleece can also be used to deter pests, preventing access to moths etc. however, i'm not sure if that means they stop helpful things like bees (i'm new to this myself).
i was told to cover peas with fleece after flowering to stop pea moths, so you might find it useful in sunny australia after all.
Tara xx

[redimp]

You cannot cover anything that requires insect pollination with anything finer than netting but somethings with flowers are self pollinating.

[busy_lizzie]

We had fleece draped over our gooseberries bushes for the first time this year and it really saved our crop which were eaten by everything last year.  It was great to unwrapl the fleece and see the lovely ripe gooseberries underneath.  We also used it around our peas until they got  to be a decent size.  In previous years we think the mice or something had chewed them.  This is the first year ever we have actually had a crop of peas.  :) busy_lizzie