New trees getting nipped!

[SWIFFY]

Hi fellas,

I planted 7 new apple trees yesterday. Our frost just was deep enough to dig a hole. Planted them, put fabric down, then mulched and watered. I was going to put cages around them today and I noticed the deer already nipped the buds off the ends of the low branches overnight. These are like 2 gallon, 7' tall trees.

Whats the smartest thing to do now that they've been nipped off? Im starting to understand the importance of having all my ducks in a row right away! In a remote spot, the cage seems as important as the tree!

What do I do now? What would be the proper steps next time? Thanks for the help!

 

[silver_yummies]

I think you’ve answered your own questions here. Have your ducks in a row next time and don’t leave the trees unprotected over night.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Trees will be fine. If it is a 7' tree in a 2 gallon pot more than likely it needed pruned back anyhow.

 

[SWIFFY]

Trees will be fine. If it is a 7' tree in a 2 gallon pot more than likely it needed pruned back anyhow.

Thanks, should I bee clipping it any where or just leave it at the bite?

 

[yoderjac]

Wouldn't hurt to prune past an outward facing bud. Sometimes deer tear the bark making more of a pathway for disease. Probably not a big deal, but I'd prefer a clean cut.

 

[Diesel5610]

Amazing how fast they find them isn't it? I think most here have learned the hard way on one thing or another. Good advice above, you will be fine and a little smarter.

 

[j-bird]

Leave the tree alone, it will be fine. Focus on getting it protected. The deer will try to eat the branches as well as rub on the tree while rabbits and other small critters will try to eat the bark right off of it as well. Lots of threads here on how various folks protect their trees and the sizes and materials they use and the like. But yes, in most cases what you spend on a 20 or 30 dollar tree you will spend 1/2 that much again properly protecting it..... Do it right the first time or find the money and time to do it twice.

 

[SWIFFY]

School of hard knocks seems to be the best teacher, unfortunately! Thanks everyone!

 

[Prof.Kent]

Don't prune the nipped ends until you fence them in or the deer will just nip the buds farther down the branch!

 

[Boone]

I planted 2 apple trees on sat after turkey hunting. Sunday I came back in the morning with cages, screen, fabric, pea gravel, and t posts. One tree was fine while the other a rabbit chewed on the base. Another lesson learned for me to.

 

[g squared 23]

I think we've all done the "I HAVE to get these trees in the ground NOW!" thing and plum run out of time to finish the protection portion. With everything included, it was taking me at least 45 minutes and maybe upwards of an hour per fruit tree to plant and fully protect. You can do some of the work ahead of time to streamline the actual planting day like precutting weed mats, cages and aluminum screening and maybe cut it down to 30 minutes/tree. You can do the math ahead of time and determine if you're going to be able to finish the job correctly. If it's going to be too tight, it might behoove you to call in a favor and recruit a buddy. Or at least put the cage on, and put down the rest on the return trip.

I delayed protection on a pile of norways and concordias oaks and the majority got hit. Dogwoods weren't touched. But it's a painful lesson.


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[4wanderingeyes]

I lost 5 trees the same way. Planted them one weekend, came back with cages the next weekend, had nothing worth caging on 3 of the trees. The other 2 are deformed to this day, but they are still alive.