How best to protect an apple tree from rodents, hares and mice, what to do in winter
In every, even a small garden, the main place is usually given to apple trees, which, for a little care, present their owners with mouth-watering juicy fruits. Not only people pay special attention to this wonderful culture, but also pests that can damage plants, reduce the amount of harvest and even completely destroy trees. There are many ways to help protect the apple tree from rodents. Even experienced gardeners will find it helpful to learn about effective protective measures to help save future crops.
What is the danger of rodents?
Winter is the most difficult period for rodents, because it is quite difficult to find food under the snow, so hares and mice go closer to human dwellings in search of food. On the way, they usually find a garden in which trees sleep so temptingly in anticipation of spring. It is they who become the object of the encroachments of pests, who feast on the bark with appetite. Most often apple trees suffer, the bark of which remains soft even during the winter frosts.
Eating the bark of trees leads to the fact that they become defenseless against severe frosts. Young trees that are not particularly hardy may die. Adult apple trees also suffer from the work of pests - exhausted plants are not capable of full flowering and fruit setting.
This will certainly affect the number of apples - the yield will be much lower than usual.
Ways to protect an apple tree from mice
The easiest method to protect trees from field mice is to use poisonous baits, which are available in gardening stores. The use of chemicals is recommended only in the cold season - in the summer, pets are capable of eating an appetizing but destructive delicacy. Spread out the bait near the trees, be sure to cover it with plywood - birds can also get poisoned by trying the poison. Regularly check the stocks of a preparation dangerous for rodents, if necessary, lay out a fresh "delicacy".
You can prepare the bait yourself:
- Mix equal parts flour, sugar (about 200 g each).
- Add alabaster (150 g) to the composition.
- Stir, pour in a little water - the product should resemble a thick paste.
- Pour in 50 ml of sunflower oil to attract pests.
If, for any reason, the use of poisons is not possible, it is recommended to resort to more humane methods of controlling small pests. Mice are frightened off by an unpleasant pungent odor; they try to avoid suspicious places. Experienced gardeners tie bunches of mint, wormwood, and wild rosemary to the trunks.As with poisons, you will have to regularly replenish stocks of herbs that quickly lose their unpleasant odor. You can also use essential oils - coat the bottom of the trees with an oily liquid.
In the fall, it is recommended to carry out processing with Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate, whitewash with special whitewashing materials. This will partially reduce the attractiveness of the bark for small pests.
How to protect an apple tree from hares?
Eared animals are distinguished by their shy disposition, therefore, often enough simple devices that will discourage rodents from appearing in the garden for a long time. Experienced gardeners use plain black polyethylene bags cut into long thin strips. Attach the prepared tapes to the branches, small posts installed near the apple trees. At the slightest gust of wind, polyethylene will make a sound that will drive away the rodents.
If the pests turn out to be too courageous or so hungry that they refuse to respond to the trick, it is recommended to use a netting-netting from forest hares - wrap the trunk, deepening it 1-4 cm into the ground. Old iron buckets without a bottom, cut plastic bottles are also great for this purpose.
Special solutions with an unpleasant odor will help to increase the effectiveness. It is recommended to mix:
- clay;
- mullein;
- water.
Pour creolin into the paste, mix. Coat the lower branches, apple tree trunks with the prepared solution. The thick layer is enough for the whole winter, you don't have to renew it.
You need to protect the trunks of apple trees to a height of up to one and a half meters - strong long legs allow the eared pests to reach quite high.
Covering material for an apple tree for the winter
Many varieties of apple trees during the winter require protection not only from pests, but also from harsh climatic conditions. You can combine and simultaneously protect trees from nosy rodents and severe frosts.
The most common and simplest way to protect plants is to use roofing material or polyethylene. Wrap the trunks only with the onset of the first frost and shoot with spring heat - there is a risk of overheating, which will adversely affect the condition of the trees.
It is imperative to remove the cover in rainy or cloudy weather - the sun's rays in spring can burn the bark.
The use of spruce branches is another great way to prevent the destructive work of frost and rodents. The process is quite laborious - the needles should be at the bottom of the trunk, above the ground itself. It is recommended to wrap the plants with polyethylene film over the spruce branches. Complete the shelter of the apple trees with the construction of a low earthen hill near the trunk.
If rodents damaged the tree
If all efforts were not enough, and the pests gnawed the bark of the apple tree, it is recommended to use several methods of treating trees. The most difficult, but rather ineffective, is the engraftment of bark taken from an undamaged part of the tree. Put the patch on the bare trunk (be sure to trace the direction and location of the bark fibers), fix it with foil, tape. It is recommended to use the method only for minor damage.
A more effective method is the use of linden infusion, which quickly heals the damaged areas. You can also use the product if the rodents have damaged the roots located near the soil surface. It is simple to prepare the product:
- Chop linden bark (200 ml) with a sharp knife.
- Pour the prepared vegetable raw materials with cool water, boil over low heat for half an hour.
- Insist 3 hours, drain.
Coat the damaged apple tree trunk with the resulting liquid, wrap with thick parchment, tie with twine.Simply grease the roots with infusion, sprinkle with a thick layer of soil. Leave the bandage for 3-5 weeks, remove, repeat the process. Usually 2-3 applications of the product are enough to restore the bark.
Protection of young seedlings
Plastic bottles are used to protect young trees planted in autumn. It is easy to make a protective agent - cut off the upper part, the bottom of the bottle with a sharp knife. Cut it to length, wrap the trunk, fix with twine, strong cord. It is important not to transfer the delicate bark - this is harmful to the apple tree.
It is also recommended to use roofing material, but with caution - it is difficult for the plant to breathe under a dense cover, it may not survive the winter. Burlap will help to prevent unpleasant consequences, which must first be wrapped around the apple tree.
Prevention
The simplest preventive measure is to build a fence around the garden. Apply a grid, picket fence for construction. The main thing is to take into account the size of the hares, leaving no loophole for them. If possible, deepen the fence 10-15 cm into the ground - this will ensure that rodents will not get into the garden. It is necessary to take into account that such an obstacle will not stop the mice; other preventive measures will be needed.
Coriander is an excellent preventive measure against rodents in the garden. Sowing a fragrant plant between trees is recommended since spring. Use some of the fragrant leaves for culinary purposes, cut off the rest, dry them, tie them into bunches and tie them to the trunk and lower branches of apple trees. This is enough not to worry about the trees - in the summer the pests will be driven away by the smell of fresh plant materials, in the winter - dry bunches.
Rodents are dangerous enemies of every gardener, capable of damaging trees, in which so much labor has been invested. You should not underestimate pests and hope that they will bypass the garden - only special measures to combat them will allow you to preserve the apple trees and enjoy the delicious fruits. It will take not so much time and effort to protect trees, so it is better to take the necessary measures in advance - to use mechanical barriers, folk remedies, chemicals.
