The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Fruit => Topic started by: whitby_sam on April 26, 2008, 05:13:34 am

Title: Bark chewed from apple tree
Post by: whitby_sam on April 26, 2008, 05:13:34 am
I don't think we've got deer and I'm pretty sure the sheep haven't got in from the field next-door so is there anything else that would chew the bark off my apple tree to a height of about 2ft?
Confused  ???
Title: Re: Bark chewed from apple tree
Post by: Townie on April 26, 2008, 09:22:22 am
My guess is that your trees have been scoffed by rabbits!

I have seen considerable damage caused to trees by rabbits eating the bark, they chew their way up from the bottom, cheeky wee things that they are.. hope this helps
Title: Re: Bark chewed from apple tree
Post by: whitby_sam on May 02, 2008, 01:10:36 am
Yeah but out of the 10 young trees I planted only 1 has been attacked. They were only cheapies and on my budget I didn't fancy paying more than the trees cost for trunk protectors, stakes and all the other gubbins. I seriously doubt its rabbits though... We've got several big cats who are bloody good rabitters, not to mention our yorkies who have free-reign... I would imagine if we had rabbits or indeed if rabbits dared enter our land someone would've brought one in by now.
We do have a family of pheasants (I noticed one morning while doing my rounds) and the cats/dogs are leaving them alone. One thing I can't get over (and this shouldn't be a suprise really as I grew up in a small fishing village) is how peaceful it is where we live. Often the only thing I can hear is the birds singing. SO peaceful and tranquil right up to the moment the baby-monitor screams at me LOL!
Title: Re: Bark chewed from apple tree
Post by: rustyme on May 02, 2008, 01:26:05 am
you could make some tree protectors from old chicken wire ......just cut a short length and wrap round like a tube . as the trees grow you can just undo and take off, or tape two short legths of guttering together to make a large tube. Failing those ideas ....what you need is a big gun and some night vision glasses....sorry can't be of any more help though ....
 
cheers

Russ
Title: Re: Bark chewed from apple tree
Post by: mack5522 on September 25, 2008, 12:36:24 am
here in the states on a young tree if its deer they will eat every leaf they can get to. what we do here that works fairly well is paint the trunk from the ground up about 3 or four feet with white interior latex paint it will not harm the tree , tastes terable and also stops bugs from boring in to the bark
Title: Re: Bark chewed from apple tree
Post by: hexhammeasure on September 25, 2008, 10:43:59 am
badgers and squirrels also attack bark but i doubt if its squirrels as they'll have plenty of food elsewhere at the minute
Title: Re: Bark chewed from apple tree
Post by: kaz on October 13, 2008, 03:38:55 pm
Squirrels have been causing havoc with our trees. Deer is not common here but squirrels are, they are stripping the trees of their bark from ground level upwards, and at heigher levels as well. Have lost two young oak trees (about 20years old) so far this year and hazel also seems to be at risk also.
Title: Re: Bark chewed from apple tree
Post by: sellickbhoy on January 30, 2009, 02:51:48 pm
my trees have been attacked by rabbits!! grrrrr

they must be pretty determined to get in - despite me living next to a woods, they want my new fruit trees more than anything

lots of bark has been stripped off them now - i'm only hoping they'll live - otherwise that's £200 wasted and i'll need to start again  :(
Title: Re: Bark chewed from apple tree
Post by: sellickbhoy on February 09, 2009, 04:18:40 pm
the snow has been a godsend!!!

this morning, i discovered fresh rabbit tracks from under a bush along my fenceline, that's where they were getting in!!! HA!! now firmly filled in

just hoping the trees survive, fingers crossed - but think i'll be down to the local nursery in a few weeks to buy some new trees :-(
Title: Re: Bark chewed from apple tree
Post by: doganjo on February 09, 2009, 06:57:03 pm
Or Lidl - £3.99 for fruit trees - I've had them before and they are really good doers! Bougth two more today.