wildlife eating all of the fruit

[Beeman]

If it wasn't so frustrating it would be funny. We've had fruit trees for many years and I don't recall ever eating more then maybe 1 piece of fruit from them. We've suffered thru drought and some disease with them always in hopes of getting some fruit. This year the peach tree was loaded, it's now stripped bare by the squirrels again. If they don't get it the deer do when it ripens. I'm not the only one around here with the problem. Unfortunately no one seems to have any solutions. Any suggestions besides shooting everything?

[turtlehead]

We fence our fruit trees to keep deer away.

For squirrels, try a rat terrier or similar.

You could also fence with fine mesh fencing (hardware cloth) buried into the ground a bit to prevent digging. Then put an electrified scare wire at about 18" and 30". We do this with our rabbit pen and so far it's kept everything out of the rabbit pen except rats (but we didn't bury our fencing; that's a lesson learned from experience).

You'll still have trouble with birds and I'm not sure what the answer is to that. We tie pie pans in the trees and it does seem to help a little.

[BaronsMom]

For birds, you need to use bird netting (sometimes called deer netting). We use it all the time - I always have a roll on hand.

This is nylon netting you put over fruit trees prior to the fruit getting ripe enough animals will go after it. And you have to be fast, because the birds will come in and take all your cherries and poke holes in all your peaches before you can even take action.

The netting can be draped over small trees and you have to tie it around the trunk or attach to the ground. For taller trees you need a ladder - or like on one of our trees, we only use it on part of the tree because it is so big.

Bird netting can be found around here at lawn and garden centers, I've seen it in like a Pamida, Wal-Mart other places as 'deer netting'. Our farm supply store didn't carry any.

I actually bought it at a lawn and garden center because it was sold in sizes appropriate for fruit trees.

You can also use bird netting over grapes, other fruiting vines, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. For strawberries, you have to tent it up or the birds will just stand on it and get through to the berries on the ground.

[BaronsMom]

I found this...on an extension site..., but no more information than that and too late for you to do anything now...will keep looking - -

"Custom-designed wire mesh fences topped with electrified wires may effectively keep out squirrels out of gardens or small orchards. "

[turtlehead]

BaronsMom, we use that bird netting to keep hawks and owls out of the rabbit pen and I think it would be a nightmare on a fruit tree. How do you get it off again? When a small branch falls on ours it immediately becomes hopelessly entangled. I can't imagine trying to put it on a fruit tree and then get it off again.

[BaronsMom]

Originally Posted by turtlehead

BaronsMom, we use that bird netting to keep hawks and owls out of the rabbit pen and I think it would be a nightmare on a fruit tree. How do you get it off again? When a small branch falls on ours it immediately becomes hopelessly entangled. I can't imagine trying to put it on a fruit tree and then get it off again.

They are designed for fruit trees specifically. But are a pain in the arse sometimes - but if we want fruit, need to keep some of those stinkers out.

Have more problems with like a cherry tree with smaller leaves - the peach trees have bigger leaves so not so twiggy. Don't have to use it on apple trees (yet) - but some friends have wild turkeys in their apple trees. The turkeys take one bite out of each apple...darn them!

Here's a site I found with a guy who has directions on how he puts it over fruit trees - http://www.davewilson.com/homegrown/...y_june_01.html

His description: Working with this material is a real challenge; imagine trying to put a fishnet stocking over a porcupine.

He also suggests using mylar streamers - that is easier an maybe start with that if you don't want to try bird netting...we're used to using it.

Hope that helps...

[TedH71]

Shoot the squirrels and eat 'em. They're quite tasty. I wish I could shoot 'em in the city but alas...can't.

[GBov]

Originally Posted by TedH71

Shoot the squirrels and eat 'em. They're quite tasty. I wish I could shoot 'em in the city but alas...can't.

No, but you can live trap them, pop them into a sack and a quick bonk on the head and hey presto, dinner

I find that any bird scarers you use have to be unpredictabe, the birds just get use to them other wise.

I had the idea of a tall pole with a sliding cam with long wires pokeing out like the spokes of a wheel. On the end of hte wires hang things like dvd disks, bells, tinsel streamers and the like. It all sits on the ground while a spring thingy winds itself up and the POW, slams the cam thing to the top of the pole to judder and shake itself back down to the ground. I know I dont have the machanical know how to build it but I will see if the Mr. willl do it for me after the move.

Lets see the wild life get use to that lol

Of course, you could just shoot everything in sight (wink)

[GoatsRus]

beeman - I'm in Tn also and although I don't have a problem with the deer or squirrels, i'm having a hard time with the japanese beetles. They found my peach trees and have taken up residence. Any sugguestions from anyone ? I use milky spore on the ground (no more grubs...yeah ) but I can't keep them from flying over from the fields around our place. I don't want to dust the fruit with sevin dust either. What to do ????

[nehimama]

I second the terrier(s) to keep the squirrels at bay. I have two Jack Russell Terrorists, and squirrels don't DARE come anywhere near the fruit trees, garden or house!

NeHi

[mayfair]

Squirrels ate all of our green cherries, apples, pears and hazelnuts this year. As soon as the sunflowers head, they'll chew the heads off and carry them off to eat.

Last year they left the cherries and pears alone- I wonder why they're so agressive this year eating everything in sight.

[bqz]

Yea the little furry rats got us last year,but this year we put foil around the bottoms of the tree and so far not a squirrel one, then again we have a bobcat running around on the property this year and I haven't even seen a squirrel yet ,but those little dudes are sneaky.

[BaronsMom]

Originally Posted by nehimama

I second the terrier(s) to keep the squirrels at bay. I have two Jack Russell Terrorists, and squirrels don't DARE come anywhere near the fruit trees, garden or house!

NeHi

I did find that to be a helpful suggestion on some pretty reliable Web sites to keep squirrels away from fruit trees... Some fiesty dogs - - -

[Jenn]

The Brits build fruit houses around smaller trees- frames like for chicken wire but with just the plastic fruit netting anbd with a door to enter. Think they leave the door open earlier for fertilization pollination