Deer eating my small apple trees

[plowhog]

Our wild animal populations seem to have a good balance. So I won't be shooting any deer. Just two weeks ago a cougar took down a deer very near our orchard. In the same general area, I have a trail camera picture of 5 cougars in the same photo-- walking along at 4am.

My small apple trees are individually fenced, as the overall area is way too large to outright fence. So I am trying to do protection for individual trees.

btw, the primary purpose of the trees is to feed the bears in the fall. We try to promote good habitat for wildlife and mama bear and her cubs always come in to feed on the apples in fall-- fattening up before winter.

So I really need some better solutions for fencing and protecting each small tree.

 

[jyoutz]

I've been planting bare root apple trees to replace a mature apple orchard that is slowly dying out. This summer, my small trees were nearly wiped out by deer. A drought year left little for the deer to eat elsewhere, so they got aggressive even in spite of fencing.

At first, I used two T-posts and a circle of 4' wire fence around the trees. The deer easily defeated that by pushing on the wire. I then tried three T-posts and a wider fence radius of protection. The deer learned to push on the wire mid-way between the T-posts and they could still get to the apple tree leaves.

What are some alternatives to keeping the deer away from the apple trees? I have plenty of T-posts and wire fence, but I either need a better approach or a way to reinforce the upper part of the fence so it can't be pushed.

Any ideas?

I had the same problem with my orchard and garden. I tried small fences, electric fences, motion activated lights, and sprinklers. Nothing worked until I built an 8 foot fence around the orchard/garden. I see the deer tracks around the perimeter, but they cannot get in.

 

[Doughknob]

Aaaaaahaaaaa. Cougars and bears will eat the dogs. So, yeah, dogs are out. 8' high fence around tree several feet beyond any branches using more posts only option.

Deer repellant made for this, but i have not had good luck with it and it costs a lot to keep replacing it.

 

[old and tired]

...Just two weeks ago a cougar took down a deer very near our orchard. In the same general area....

So I really need some better solutions for fencing and protecting each small tree.

You need more cougars then....

We used 4 posts and tied the 2x4" fencing to the posts with wire around each tree (3' or 4' square) so it doesn't move. Most of our fences are down except around a couple of the small trees. Now we have way too many apples - we picked out varieties so there would be a constant flow of apples, we still have a couple trees dropping apples...

Now if you can only tell me how to keep my dog from eating apples....

 

[plowhog]

8' high fence around tree several feet beyond any branches using more posts only option.

I am unsure about fence height. The existing fence is only 4' tall.

The entire diameter of my fence circle, using 3 T-posts, is 10-12 feet. So only 5-6 feet from the tree trunk to the fence fabric. It's enough to let the tree mature *if* the fence would hold up. I doubt a deer would jump into such a small space. I've never seen one do it in my small fence circles. But I'm not sure.

 

[old and tired]

Another thing you can try is to put 2 fences around the apples a few feet apart.

 

[Doughknob]

I am unsure about fence height. The existing fence is only 4' tall.

The entire diameter of my fence circle, using 3 T-posts, is 10-12 feet. So only 5-6 feet from the tree trunk to the fence fabric. It's enough to let the tree mature *if* the fence would hold up. I doubt a deer would jump into such a small space. I've never seen one do it in my small fence circles. But I'm not sure.

They will step (maybe 'hop') over a 4' fence and just walk up to the smorgassbord. Small space makes no matter. "Fabric"?? Gotta use real wire pasture fence. 8' high.

 

[plowhog]

"Fabric"??

Used the wrong term. It's metal welded-wire type.

 

[Goose1776]

You can use a double fence system a small fence, inside a larger fence, it works wonders..

Milorganite spread around the tree will work, or at least help. as long as you keep it applied

And the best solution that worked for us was running 5 strands of electric fence around each tree,
We just used the fiberglass step in electric fence posts, with electric tape.
And yes we had them hooked to a charger.
Keeps everything off the trees.
We also are building a wildlife sanctuary, and trying to plant as many wildlife beneficial trees as possible,
The wildlife just seems to want to make it difficult for us. Hahaha

 

[Diggin It]

I did the t-post and wire thing until the apple trees got taller. That helped the rutting as well as the nibbling.

They were able to reach over enough to nibble the fresh shoots on the cherry trees though. I raised the posts with plastic pipe for extensions and added another layer of wire mesh above the first. That took care of the cherry shoot nibbling and by next year they should be tall enough to survive on their own.