Re: Mice VS Apple Trees
[Re: 160user]
#6822866
03/30/20 10:40 AM
03/30/20 10:40 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,333 Hancock Co., Indiana
Kart29
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,333
Hancock Co., Indiana
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Very sorry for ya, 160. I love planting and growing trees and I know how it hurts to lose one. I have no idea if that one will survive or not. But to make yourself feel better, I would try to plant a new one ASAP.
What from Christ that soul can sever, Bound by everlasting bands? None shall take thee From the Strength of Israel's hands.
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Re: Mice VS Apple Trees
[Re: 160user]
#6822886
03/30/20 10:52 AM
03/30/20 10:52 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,859 Pa
Wright Brothers
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,859
Pa
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Rabbits got my 5 to 1 graft. The snow got deeper than the protector.
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Re: Mice VS Apple Trees
[Re: 160user]
#6822914
03/30/20 11:13 AM
03/30/20 11:13 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,446 New York border
Cragar
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,446
New York border
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I've seen a lot of damage like that on ornamental shrubs. Usually caused by Voles.
NRA benefactor member
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Re: Mice VS Apple Trees
[Re: Cragar]
#6822918
03/30/20 11:18 AM
03/30/20 11:18 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,424 east central WI
k snow
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,424
east central WI
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I've seen a lot of damage like that on ornamental shrubs. Usually caused by Voles. That makes sense also. I catch more of those in the basement than mice.
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Re: Mice VS Apple Trees
[Re: 160user]
#6822922
03/30/20 11:22 AM
03/30/20 11:22 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,240 West Michigan
Getting There
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,240
West Michigan
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Last year I was talking to a cherry farmer with the same problem. I suggested he build and put up kestrel boxes. They are big time mice eaters. I have talk to him yet this year. I see most of the trees wrapped with a white plastic wrap they most likely get at the ag. store.
To Old U.S. Army 60-63 SGT.
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Re: Mice VS Apple Trees
[Re: Birdman382]
#6822954
03/30/20 11:54 AM
03/30/20 11:54 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,899 MN
160user
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,899
MN
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Last year 2018 I lost three apple trees as the snow got higher than the white tubs. Ths year 2019 I put 1/4 by 1/4 wire mesh. So we will see if that worked. Good stuff! Yes the snow got deeper than my tubes this year. I will likely lose around 15 trees out of this "patch" of apple trees. I will need to check some of the other patches and see how they did. I do like the tin foil idea and may need to try that.
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: Mice VS Apple Trees
[Re: corky]
#6822956
03/30/20 11:54 AM
03/30/20 11:54 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,286 Oregon
beaverpeeler
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,286
Oregon
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I use aluminum foil under the plastic wrap from a garden store. No problems. Yes. I learned the aluminum foil trick many years ago in silviculture. Coat the foil with a collar of "tanglefoot" and they won't be able to climb it.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Mice VS Apple Trees
[Re: Northof50]
#6822958
03/30/20 11:56 AM
03/30/20 11:56 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,899 MN
160user
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,899
MN
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From the color of the droppings it was meadow voles, mice would be black.
You can take some live twigs and graft from bottom to top across the gaps 4 or 5 spots to keep the spring flow going but the top has to be cut back Mice, moles, shrews, voles...….I can't tell the difference and was just generalizing. I think large amounts of DECON in the area are in order. Ia m sick over this. All the hours of planting, trimming, fertilizing and fencing to keep the deer away all for nothing.
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: Mice VS Apple Trees
[Re: 160user]
#6822980
03/30/20 12:18 PM
03/30/20 12:18 PM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 1,018 MI
Co�s
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 1,018
MI
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That's a bummer, I feel your pain. My wife and I run a native plant nursery and overwinter our perrenials outside. Meadow voles are a constant battle, they can cause us thousands of dollars in damage each winter, they chew through plastic plug flats and eat the plant inside. Sweet plants are most attractive to them, I think apple bark would be pretty desirable.
Our most successful control methods have been: aggressive fall trapping to reduce numbers and working to reduce snow accumulation around our stock as they operate under the cover of snow. The most successful deterrent has been castor oil (from the bean, not beaver castor), and black/cayenne pepper. You can get bulk castor oil on Amazon. We haven't had good luck with the castor pellets available at many garden/hardware stores
I think in your case the hardware cloth or foil would be a pretty effective as long as the snow didn't get too deep.
Last edited by Coös; 03/30/20 12:19 PM.
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