Thursday, August 25, 2022

Oh, deer!

Regular readers of this blog may remember that I bought a crabapple tree late in the winter and planted it in our front yard. It arrived as a bare stick (dormant) and for a while this spring we were beginning to wonder if it was really alive. Then, finally, hurray! A nice flush of tender new leaves popped out and we knew it was alive and growing. More and more leaves started to pop out and I was so excited!

Then one morning I got up and all those pretty new leaves were gone--had just disappeared overnight. We'd been seeing a couple of young deer hanging out in our neighbors' yards and I couldn't think of anything else that would have stripped the leaves from a waist high tree like that. I was upset, but I could see new little buds further down the stem getting ready to open. And open they did! Another flush of leaves opened up and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Until about a week later. The same thing happened--all the new growth disappeared overnight.

This has happened three or four times now. Every time the little tree struggles to put out a few new leaves, they promptly disappear. I read somewhere that apple tree foliage is a favorite among deer. What on earth am I going to do? I don't think the little tree will continue to survive if it can't keep leaves for photosynthesis.

I wish I could think of a solution. I'm considering putting some kind of wire cage around it or some netting over it, but of course that's going to look ugly as hell in the front yard! If anyone reading this has any suggestions to deter hungry young deer (that won't look too ridiculous) please share them with me!

The ironic part of all this is that part of the reason we decided on a crabapple tree in the first place is so that the fruit could one day be food for the local wildlife! At the rate things are going, those deer will never see an actual crabapple...and neither will we!

                                              Centurion Crabapple Tree


27 comments:

  1. I think that there is some sort of spray that you can buy at a garden center that helps to ward off deer. I am not sure if it works or not. The deer are always nibbling on Michael's magnolia trees and it drives him nuts.

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    1. What I don't get is why they keep coming for less than a handful of tiny little leaves when the whole neighborhood is full of alternative food sources. We've even seen them eating out of bird feeders, and there are plenty of acorns, black walnuts, pecans, and who knows what all kinds of green stuff to eat. But no, they have to come after our tiny little stick tree!

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  2. I have an ongoing fight with the deer from the forest preserve across the road. Have had a bit of luck using the lightweight netting you put over fruit trees to keep the birds off. It's not quite as ugly as the wire cages I have built in the past. It's a struggle, and even "deer resistant" varieties of plants really aren't.

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    1. I guess we'll have to go with a cage...as much as I hate the thought.

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  3. I agree with the first commenter. Check on an environmentally friendly spray first... but the cage idea may be the best. Check to see if you can find something in green, or spray it green, that way it might not be that noticeable, like say silver or white.

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    1. Yes, I think the cage might be the best idea.

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  4. A friend wrapped cloth around the trunk of their pear tree and sprinkled peppermint oil on it liberally. It kept the squirrels fromr eating the seeds out of about 20 pears a day and she thought it might also deter the deer who live in their woods. I think maybe the cloth could be old socks so would not be too obtrusive.

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    1. I can't believe peppermint oil kept squirrels away from fruit! They're usually tenacious little buggers.

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  5. Sorry, no useful tips there from me, but I think the other commenters have some good suggestions already.
    Poor little tree!

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    1. I know! It makes me so mad when it happens! I love our little stick tree. :)

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  6. We used to buy a spray that was urine-based, or at least smelled like it, to keep the deer away. It didn’t smell when we were around it but it worked on the deer.

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    1. I ought to see if I can get the dogs to pee near it!

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    2. Yes, a spray with pepper or animal urine works nicely. I used to make a spray from water and cayenne pepper. Also, putting animal hair out around the plants.

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  7. I'd be happy to send you a fox to deter the deer if we could only catch the dang thing. Honestly- ask your local nurseries. I have no idea.

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    1. We've seen foxes close by but obviously they live in harmony with the deer. We have neighbors who got chickens a few months ago. I hope they're safe!

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  8. I have read that shards of Irish Spring soap tied around the tree, rather like ornaments, will repel deer. It's a cheap enough fix if it works.

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    1. We might actually have some Irish Spring soap in the house! My husband likes the way it smells.

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  9. Unfortunately I don't have any experience trying to keep deer away from our own garden! I have seen trees in parks with cylindrical cages around them to protect the trunk -- they're unobtrusive enough to not be TOO ugly and also protect the tree. But it seems others have had luck with sprays and even less obvious solutions. Good luck!

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    1. Thanks Steve! I'll probably go with a cage, as it sounds the most foolproof.

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  10. I'd also check out the deer/rabbit repeller sprays. I've also seen a recipe to make your own but it sounds quite vile to make. OTOH, not as nasty as how they get the predator-based urine repellents. IIRC it involved leaving beating raw eggs, grinding hot peppers, mixing with milk & water and leaving it to sit in the sun for a day or two,
    then strain and spray.
    Also things like the soap or hanging foil pie plates work, then the deer get used to it. So novelty and changing tactics is also key.

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    1. I'm thinking a cage will be the best option even if it isn't all that pretty to look at . As Terra said (below) it should only be for the first two or three years.

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  11. I have no deer advice. I have drip line mugging squirrels to contend with. I gave up the fight since we're in a drought and I can't use the water anyway.

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    1. It's hard to begrudge a thirsty animal water. And I'd gladly buy deer corn and spread it out front if that would keep the deer satisfied, but they eat birdseed and corn out of bird feeders and they STILL seem to prefer our crabapple leaves. Sigh.

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  12. Your tree has the potential to be so glorious. I suggest you go with the cage (metal posts and chicken wire) to protect the tree for the first 3 years. Yes, kind of ugly but the tree will get big enough to flourish without the cage, lots of cage use here in my area.

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    1. I think this will be what I end up doing. I already have some chicken wire going to waste in the garage.

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  13. Cute doggie pictures. I'm not sure this helps with the waiting, but when I was diagnosed based on the MRI, the doctor called immediately to let me know. Same with my husband, as soon as a test was read and it's cancer usually the red alerts go out. Not sure if that's the case for you but hopefully you'll know something monday.

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