Deer eating my small apple trees

   / Deer eating my small apple trees #51  
My father tried about everything to keep deer out of his garden; cds hanging on dental floss so that they would spin in the breeze, coyote urine, soap, human hair... the only thing he found that worked was a two strand electric fence. It depends on how much other delectable food is around, and I suspect size of the area enclosed might be a factor.
 
   / Deer eating my small apple trees #52  
Deer jump fences, cattle don’t.
We had a steer that would jump a 5' woven wire fence without touching it. It wouldn't come close to an electric fence.
 
   / Deer eating my small apple trees #53  
We had a steer that would jump a 5' woven wire fence without touching it. It wouldn't come close to an electric fence.
I don’t doubt what you say, but my steers stay in my 5’ woven wire fences. The deer jumped every electric fence around my garden/orchard. My land is perimeter fence with 5’ woven wire. The only fence that stopped deer was the 8’ woven wire fence.
 
   / Deer eating my small apple trees #54  
Try a 3D electric fence design like this around the perimeter of the orchard:


Or, for each individual tree, build a heavy wire fence between 5-6 feet tall several feet beyond the outside of the tree dripline. With newly planted small trees, plan for growth and place the fence well beyond the dripline.

Good luck! The "wildlife tax" can be substantial...
 
   / Deer eating my small apple trees #55  
Cattle that jump fences go to the freezer or to the auction yard.
 
   / Deer eating my small apple trees #56  
1/2 inch rebar driven in in 4 corners. 6 feet above ground 6 feet apart in a square. Weld rebar as top rail to all four posts + cross posts diagonally. wrap with chicken wire. Throw 6X6 chicken wire over top, wire tie the mess, should be deer proof and cheap.

Best,

ed
 

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