Deer & Apple Trees?!

Jun 05, 2004 2 Replies

Rate this thread:

Saved reading

Joy Hardie 22 years ago

What should I do to keep the deer and other animals from eating my newly planted apple trees. The trees are only about 4' and very small. We live in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan and on a ravine that gets quite alot of deer traffic. I saw some plastic mesh at the store that the guy said keeps deer away.. ...a "deer repelling mesh that you drape over the tree." Or, should I put a fence around the tree? How high and what diameter do you suggest. How big does the tree have to be before I don't need to worry? Many thanks, Joy

Vote

Information here may be outdated?

Frank Logullo 22 years ago

Anything should work. Small trees are often killed by rabbits in the winter, chewing their bark, so you should wrap. I don't think deer normally eat apple leaves but if hungry will eat anything growing. A mature buck can kill a large tree, maybe diameter up to 6 inches, with antler rubs. Small fence would work best. Deer love apples, so you will have to fight them for the harvest. Frank

Vote

SAS567 22 years ago

Hi Joy, I also live in Mi. north of Detroit on 20, mostly wooded acres and have many, many deer. When I plant any kind of new tree I put rabbit fence around it and also on top of it. I also put a little extra birdfeed on the ground under my bird feeders so the deer will have easily ready food. I still see them eating some leaves off trees but not any of my special ones. I also have a 7' fence around my veggie garden. Good Luck, Sue in Mi. (zone 5)

Vote