Deer vs. Apple trees

[Mtsoxfan]

I have some older apple trees on their last legs, so I am slowly adding apple trees to replace them. They are in my yard, more like landscaping trees that produce apples. I went out today to do some pruning, and I find that deer (I think) have nibbled off some new growth branches. trees were planted last year, figured they were 2 years old. Is there any good way to deter the deer from nibbling without having to put a fence up? A fence would take away from the view, but if that is the best way, I'll just have to suck it up for a couple years until they are tall/big enough to survive the deer snacking on them.

I know people who have sprayed hostas with a cayanne mixture that works for deer, not sure if anyone has tried on an apple tree. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[ponytug]

Liquid fence is amazing, but of course it repels humans, too. (Read the label, but I think the prime ingredient is rotten eggs.) We have had good luck with one of the sprinklers that tags deer via IR motion detectors. I can't say that we have had much such with cayenne mixtures.

Perhaps planting browse farther out?

All the best, Peter

 

[kenmbz]

I cage my trees until they are tall enough for the deer not to reach.
They still grab peaches off one of my trees, and that's over 6' tall.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

What is your set up for the fencing? How far from trees? What style fencing?

 

[jmc]

I only had 3 newly planted apple trees in my yard to deal with and I just made a cage for each of them. IIRC, 20 ft lengths of rebar roll into a 6 ft diameter ring. An upper and lower rebar ring supported 2"x4" light wire fencing. By the time the trees outgrew the cages, they had also outgrown the deer.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Thanks, I have a roll of rebar roll, 4' tall, I think. My two trees are about 10' apart. I'll have to see how many feet unrolled, once snow melts enough for me to get to it.

 

[kenmbz]

Can use thicker welded wire (galvanized) too, staked down, without the rebar.
Need to mulch around tree to keep it clean from weeds.

Temporary can use anything about 7' tall with string at various heights, like t-post or cedar posts. But the cages were the only thing that slowed them down.

Even my garden is 7' t-posts with chicken wire to the top in galvanized raised beds, with the wire staked down (groundhogs!).

 

[jmc]

Thanks, I have a roll of rebar roll, 4' tall, I think. My two trees are about 10' apart. I'll have to see how many feet unrolled, once snow melts enough for me to get to it.

Thomas Edison said something to the effect that innovation is the combination of a little inspiration and a large junk pile.

Those cages are now hanging up in my barn trusses if you want a picture. The vertical rebar legs that press into the ground also act as stilts for the light fencing, because you don't need that fencing to extend all the way to the ground for deer.

 

[Jstpssng]

I have cages of concrete reinforcement wire that I put around my young trees. Rebar and chicken wire will work just as well.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I guess I used the wrong terminology, I have concrete reinforcement wire. I was hoping for something less "ugly" but if that's the best way, I'll do it. Thank you all.