North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Ginda Fisher <list@ginda.us>]

On Jan 25, 2011, at 7:41 PM, Evan wrote:

> 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?

I don't have a lot of trees, so I go to the local hardware store -- the one 
that advertises that they will re-screen your doors and windows -- and I ask 
for the used aluminum window screen that they have taken off other people's 
doors and windows.  They give it to me for free, as they were planning to 
throw it away.  It is very easy to cut and shape to put around the base of 
trees, and it is effective at keeping rabbits and voles at bay.  It 
"breathes", so you don't have to worry about over-heating or rot of what-not. 
 

I wrap it moderately snugly around the tree, with a bit of thin packing foam 
at the top to keep out borers.  (left over from packages I've received.)  
Then I bind it in place with a stapler, folding over some extra screen so I 
can "let it out" as the tree grows.  Every spring I check to see if it's 
tight, and loosen it if need be.  

Ginda