Deer vs. Apple trees

[jyoutz]

My solution wasn’t easy, but it absolutely works to keep deer away. I constructed a one acre field fence 8.5’ high around my orchard and garden. It was a bit of work, but it’s been working perfectly for about 8 years now. The big gate has a wheel to support it because it’s 12’ wide and 8’ tall.

 

[goeduck]

8.5' high would do it !! Nice work.

 

[Dftodd]

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.

I made up some cayenne pepper spray once and sprayed it all over my garden to try and keep the critters out.

What I learned is critters in the south love hot sauce on their veggies

 

[Jstpssng]

I remember that in the 1950's or into the 60's that I saw fruit tree trunks "painted" to about the four foot level. I was under the impression that it was lime that was used. FYI: at my age memories are unreliable.

I finally found my Fedco Trees catalog. They are organic but have some handy hints. They recommend a mix of interior latex paint and joint compound to paint the trunks.




I also have seen a recipe using milk and lime, but can't find it now.

Voles here go under the hardware cloth below the soil level. They also in a few cases climbed up on top of the hardware cloth and chewed the bark there. I can't seem to win. My thought was to paint the trunks with plant guard, but still use hardware cloth. I have about a dozen young trees that need to get planted this year and next.

That same catalog I mentioned above also states that they've found Narcissus keeps the voles away. Whodda thunk that planting daffodils along with the trees would help to protect them?

 

[DarkBlack]

That same catalog I mentioned above also states that they've found Narcissus keeps the voles away. Whodda thunk that planting daffodils along with the trees would help to protect them?

Not saying it’s not true, but with today’s replacement tree cost, I wouldn’t rely on that. I remember back when hanging scented soap bars was all the rage in certain circles. I used the smelliest Irish spring bars.
Not only did I find some expensive young sweet cherry saplings with almost all winter buds chewed off, but the bars of soap were 1/3 eaten too.

 

[ponytug]

I think that things like narcissus, alliums, and thyme is that they are a deterrent, rather than a shield. The active poison in narcissus is lycorine, and toxic to a wide variety of animals, including cats, dogs, horses, and humans.

https://www.gardenia.net/guide/plants-that-voles-will-avoid

All the best,

Peter

 

[Jstpssng]

I think that things like narcissus, alliums, and thyme is that they are a deterrent, rather than a shield. The active poison in narcissus is lycorine, and toxic to a wide variety of animals, including cats, dogs, horses, and humans.

https://www.gardenia.net/guide/plants-that-voles-will-avoid

All the best,

Peter

At any rate, I will try them because I have nothing to lose.

 

[kenmbz]

The mice seem to like the irish spring soap. What a mess that was.
Why I cage everything that the deer will eat, which is almost anything.
They even ate all my forsythia. 25 plants all nibbled down.

 

[fishin coyote]

I live by this rule concerning the local deer population “You can’t have anything nice without a fence around it “.

 

[bigtiller]

The mice seem to like the irish spring soap. What a mess that was.
Why I cage everything that the deer will eat, which is almost anything.
They even ate all my forsythia. 25 plants all nibbled down.

Yep, deer will eat or try to eat anything.

I had a 24" orange traffic cone in the waterway of my corn field marking a spot for spring work.

Deer took a few bites out of it.