How 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 little care, give their owners delicious juicy fruits. Particular attention is paid to this wonderful culture not only by people, but also by pests that can damage plants, reduce crop yields, and even completely destroy trees. There are many ways to help protect the apple tree from rodents. Even experienced gardeners will benefit from learning about effective protective measures to help save future crops.

What is the danger of rodents?

Winter time 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 come across a garden in which the trees so temptingly sleep in anticipation of spring. It is they who become the object of encroachment by pests, who regale on the bark with appetite. Apple trees are most often affected, 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 set.

This will certainly affect the number of apples - the harvest will be much lower than usual.

Ways to protect an apple tree from mice

The easiest way to protect trees from field mice is to use poisonous baits available at 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 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 mix.
Stir, pour in some 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 dealing with small pests. Mice are repelled by an unpleasant pungent smell, they try to avoid suspicious places. Experienced gardeners tie bunches of mint, wormwood, wild rosemary to the trunks. As with poisons, you will have to regularly replenish your stocks of herbs, which quickly lose their unpleasant odor. You can also use essential oils - smear the lower part of the trees with an oily liquid.

In autumn it is recommended to treat with Bordeaux liquid or blue vitriol, whitewash with special whitewash materials. This will partially reduce the attractiveness of the bark to small pests.

How to protect an apple tree from hares?

Eared animals have a shy disposition, so often simple devices are enough to discourage rodents from appearing in the garden for a long time.Experienced gardeners use plain black plastic bags cut into long, thin strips. Attach prepared tapes to branches, small posts installed near apple trees. At the slightest gust of wind, the polyethylene will make a sound that will drive away the rodents.

If the pests are too bold or so hungry that they refuse to respond to the trick, it is recommended to use a chain-link net from forest hares - wrap the trunk, deepening 1-4 cm into the ground. Iron old buckets without a bottom, cut plastic bottles are also great for this purpose.

Special solutions with an unpleasant odor will help increase efficiency. Recommended mix:

clay;
mullein;
water.

Pour creolin into the paste, mix. Coat the lower branches, trunks of apple trees with the prepared solution. A thick layer will last all winter, no need to renew it.

You need to protect the trunks of apple trees to a height of one and a half meters - strong long paws allow eared pests to reach quite high.

Covering material for apple trees 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 at the same time protect trees from nosy rodents and severe frosts.

The most common and easiest way to protect plants is to use roofing material or polyethylene. Wrap the trunks only with the onset of the first frosts and shoot with the warmth of spring - there is a risk of causing overheating, which will adversely affect the condition of the trees.

Be sure to remove the cover in rainy or cloudy weather - the sun's rays in the spring can burn the bark.

Using spruce branches is another great way to prevent the destructive work of frost and rodents. The process is quite laborious - the needles must be at the bottom of the trunk, above the ground itself. On top of the spruce branches, it is recommended to wrap the plants with polyethylene film. Complete the shelter of apple trees by building a low earthen hill near the trunk.

If the 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 tree treatment methods. The most difficult, but rather ineffective, is the engraftment of the bark taken from the intact part of the tree. Apply the patch to the bare trunk (be sure to trace the direction and location of the bark fibers), fix it with a film, electrical tape. It is recommended to use the method only for minor damage.

A more effective method is to use linden infusion, which quickly heals damaged areas. You can also use the product if the rodents have damaged the roots located near the soil surface. Easy to prepare:

Chop lime bark (200 ml) with a sharp knife.
Pour prepared vegetable raw materials with cool water, boil over low heat for half an hour.
Leak for 3 hours, strain.

Coat the damaged trunk of an apple tree with the resulting liquid, wrap it with thick parchment, tie it 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 are enough to repair 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 lengthwise, wrap the trunk, fix it with twine, a strong cord.It's important not to crush the tender bark - it's bad for 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. To prevent unpleasant consequences, burlap, which must first be wrapped around the apple tree, will help.

Prevention

The simplest preventive measure is to build a fence around the garden. Apply for the construction of the grid, picket fence. The main thing is to take into account the size of the hares, leaving no loopholes for them. If possible, deepen the fence 10-15 cm into the ground - this ensures that rodents do not make their way into the garden. You need to take into account that such an obstacle will not stop mice, other preventive measures will be needed.

An excellent preventive measure against rodents in the garden is coriander. It is recommended to sow a fragrant plant between trees since spring.Some of the fragrant leaves are used for culinary purposes, the rest are cut, dried, tied in bunches and tied to the trunk and lower branches of apple trees. This is enough not to worry about trees - in summer the smell of fresh plant materials will drive away pests, in winter - dry bunches.

Rodents are dangerous enemies of every gardener, capable of damaging the trees in which so much work 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 save apple trees and enjoy delicious fruits. It will not take much time and effort to protect trees, so it is better to take the necessary measures in advance - use mechanical barriers, folk remedies, chemicals.