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  • From: Evan <kodama@riseup.net>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [NAFEX] Tree Protection Strategies
  • Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:41:28 -0500

Hello all,

I am a complete newcomer to fruit growing, and am going to put in a few trees
and bushes in the spring. I am very much looking forward to this, but as the
day approaches when I will receive the bare-root stock, I continue to
contemplate all the various things that could possibly go wrong, particularly
the animals that might eat or damage the trees. Deer, rabbits, voles all come
to mind. Maybe this is just because I'm new and antsy, but I am curious as to
the various plant protection strategies folks use with good success. In my
area, we have a healthy herd of deer, and by healthy there is daily activity
on various parts of the 19 acres that I live on, some of this is in the area
where I am going to plant these trees and shrubs.

So far, my strategy involves putting up a baited, three-wire, 3-dimensional
style electric fence around the garden and orchard to deter the deer. Though
I hear that some folks have success with mere fishing line? I wonder if this
is in areas where deer pressure is low? I would love it if fishing line alone
would work, as I don't really want to add another electrical device to my
life, and it would be quite a good bit cheaper. I will probably even throw up
a fishing line fence in the next week (weather permitting) just to test this
idea. I know I've seen some folks around here using fishing line around their
gardens, so it must have some effect, but I haven't talked to anyone who does
this to find out if it completely repels the deer or only marginally works.

Inside the electric fence I have considered putting small mesh guards or
possibly 3' tree-shelters on the plantings to protect from browse by smaller
animals like rabbits and voles. This is the part I'm a bit more stuck on, as
I would prefer to do things inexpensively when possible, and buying a roll of
hardware cloth or a bundle of treeshelters would not come cheap. In the long
run, I'm willing to spend an extra couple bucks per tree to increase its odds
of thriving, but if there's another way to do it that costs less, well, that
I'm interested in. I've heard of using 24" aiuminum flashing to make guards
as well?

Also I wonder about odor-deterrents like Liquid Fence, which offers both a
rabbit and vole deterrent spray. This would be another economical way for me
to get by, but I would even consider trying something I could mix at home.
I've heard of Sepp Holzer making a rather odd bonejuice that he swears by.

Basically, I'm looking to hear what strategies folks are using to protect
young trees and shrubs from herbivores, especially anything Home-made and
DIY-style. I hope I'm not bringing up a topic that's already been beaten to
death.

cheers,
Evan
Southern Appalachia
Zone 6b
57" annual rainfall
just short of 3000'





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