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Post by binnylou on Oct 10, 2021 9:49:31 GMT -5
It’s a ritual. Every year, we install fence cages around our young trees. Every year, it seems we didn’t do it soon enough. Yesterday I found damage to the three bald cypress trees. Two of them just had small lower limbs bitten and broken, but the third tree had trunk damage from deer rubbing.
We cage eight trees and a young lilac bush. Typically, the cage is the diameter of the trees crown. Hubby suggested smaller cages just wide enough so the deer can’t get their head against the trunk. He also suggested leaving the protective cages in place year around.
If you have problems with deer browsing/rubbing, what is your method of protection?
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Post by desertwoman on Oct 10, 2021 10:15:34 GMT -5
I have cages close in to the trunk and leave them year round. I've always put them in place as soon as the tree is planted, Once the tree is mature enough I then remove them- that could be several years
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Post by Wheelgarden on Oct 10, 2021 17:45:26 GMT -5
We did that with one young pecan and a young pin oak, after both had deer damage. We used loose, light sheet aluminum sleeves on the trunk, then took them off when they matured. Both trees are healthy and majestic now.
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Post by claude on Oct 11, 2021 16:20:14 GMT -5
It’s been a while since I’ve had to protect trees but this fall I have smaller peach,cherry and apple saplings about 4’ and up. Normally stake in the deer fencing around the entire area. The side of the garden closest to the house has the dogs leaving their scent and the outer ring is what needs protection. Hopefully this will be enough. I like the aluminum idea —sound as well as flashing.
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Post by binnylou on Oct 17, 2021 13:51:10 GMT -5
All trees are now protected. The Bald Cypress trees have large diameter cages. After discussing, we decided to convert the rest of the cages to smaller diameter and leave them in place year around. Next Spring, the cages on the Bald Cypress will get changed to cages of smaller diameter. I’m sure the deer will still nibble on branches just above the cage, but at least that nibbling won’t kill the tree like rubbing might.
Thanks for your suggestions.
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Post by claude on Oct 17, 2021 14:12:31 GMT -5
Binny, are you saying that you form a box around the entire tree or am I misunderstanding you?
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Post by binnylou on Oct 17, 2021 14:35:27 GMT -5
claude, we are using woven wire fencing placed around the trunk of the tree, then fastened with zip ties to keep the fencing in a circular shape. We cut some rebar and they were pushed in to the ground to secure the cages in place…zip ties were used again for this.
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Post by Mumsey on Oct 23, 2021 4:49:08 GMT -5
I put a wire fence cage around our new little tree, to keep rabbits from nibbling. We have seen deer in town since we are only a block from the fields, but they have never jumped our 5 ft. fence.
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Post by binnylou on Nov 6, 2021 23:00:37 GMT -5
When I said that “ all trees are now protected”, I didn’t consider the Red Oak that is granddaughter’s tree. We planted it when first grandchild was born and she is now 19. The deer have never bothered it…until last night. They scarred it pretty badly. I didn’t discover the damage until late afternoon. The roll of woven fencing is all secured with zip ties, so I didn’t want to open that roll. I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to assemble a triangular shaped barricade using some pieces of cattle panel. Two pieces were in the garden, but that third piece was back in a part of our property that isn’t mowed. I tugged and pulled on it…body knows I was doing something new. But I got ‘er done.
I wonder what tree is next.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Jan 5, 2022 11:34:49 GMT -5
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Post by binnylou on Jan 5, 2022 11:38:20 GMT -5
lilolpeapicker , I doubt that burlap would offer much protection from the rubbing of deer. Antlers. They scrape off the bark when they rub.
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Post by gb98 on May 13, 2022 6:48:36 GMT -5
Can you use burlap around the trunk? I use it to keep Jesse from nibbing on the rabbit mulch, The problem with burlap is that moisture and borers get under it. Window screen would work better as it can breathe. |
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Post by binnylou on May 13, 2022 7:58:57 GMT -5
gb98, window screen wouldn’t begin to protect the tree trunks from deer rubbing. The screening would be shredded by their antlers.
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Post by gb98 on May 13, 2022 8:06:57 GMT -5
gb98, window screen wouldn’t begin to protect the tree trunks from deer rubbing. The screening would be shredded by their antlers. How about a hard wire mesh of some sort. |
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Post by binnylou on May 13, 2022 8:21:36 GMT -5
How about fencing, the kind that farmers might use to keep the cows in their pasture? We bought a roll many years ago when we planted fruit trees. Make sure the fencing is the five feet tall kind. The deer may browse the lower limbs of he tree, but this will protect the trunk. Don’t forget the zip ties.
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