North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Phil Norris <COUSINPHIL@ACADIA.NET>]

Helene,

I also have a serious borer problem just as you described.  One thing 
that really works is to keep a two foot diameter of bare soil around 
the tree.  Borers love to hide behind dense foliage and those white 
plastic spirals.  They don't like it when they are exposed.  Doesn't 
work 100% but it helps.

A nurseryman friend has come up with a pretty effective borer cage. 
A collar of soft foam is wrapped around the trunk about a foot up. 
Then a piece of screen about 15 inches wide is laid around the trunk 
and stapled together tightly around the collar.  The lower edge is 
buried in the soil.   The beauty of it is that the cage can expand 
with the tree.

The method I personally use is a piece of piano wire and eternal vigilance.

Phil Norris
Blue Hill Maine
Z4

 

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