Deer, rabbits and other wild animals find the young bark of apple and other trees extremely tasty. Therefore, in some regions it can make sense to protect the trees from browsing with a fence.
When and how should you fence in trees?
Fencing trees makes sense to protect them from browsing by wild animals. Possibilities include protective trousers made of wire mesh, bite protection cuffs made of plastic mesh, game protection made of pine branches or a coat of lime with clay.
When fencing in trees makes sense
The bark of young trees is very tempting for deer, fallow deer and other wild animals as it is tender, juicy and easy to reach - a real treat that the animals cannot miss. However, since nibbling can have dire consequences for the tree - heavy browsing leads to its death - fencing is particularly useful in rural regions, on orchards, in allotments and in urban garden settlements - deer are not only in the forest, but also as cultural followers to be found in the city.
Fencing trees – you have these options
A high fence, a hedge or a wall around your own property already provides effective protection against invading wild animals, but cannot guarantee 100% protection. Small animals in particular, such as hungry brown hares or wild rabbits, can still get through there. If you have a rabbit problem in your region, the trees should still be fenced in even behind high property boundaries. There are different ways to do this:
Protective trousers made of tight wire mesh
This is attached to the plant post when planting, but can also be retrofitted. To do this, drive several stakes into the ground and fence the tree with wire mesh (€17.00 on Amazon) or wire mesh. This braid must be placed as tightly as possible around the trunk and not have too large a mesh.
Bite protection cuffs made of plastic or plastic mesh
These work similarly to the bite protection made of wire mesh, they are just made of a different material. However, plastic is a problematic material because the wood underneath has difficulty drying and remains damp. The moist environment, in turn, promotes the colonization of fungi. Plastic spirals are also not recommended, as deer can easily push them aside and still get to the tree bark.
Wildlife protection made from fir branches
To do this, place pine branches around the tree trunk and attach it. The idea behind it is that wild animals are more likely to go for the fir branches - or leave them alone because they are not as tasty as young apple tree bark.
Tip
A coat of lime also helps to deter hungry deer and rabbits - especially if you mix the lime paint with clay.
