Rabbits?

[Barndog56]

Haven't used hardware screen up to this point as I didn't have many rabbits but the population has rebounded lately. I'm assuming they are the cause of this damage to my fruit trees?

How tall of a hardware screen do I need? And how do you hold it in place?

 

[trampledbyturtles]

About to or above the average snow line on a given year. 18-36 in location dependent.

I used a standard desk stapler, worked just fine.

Edit: Just re-read what I wrote, it read a little confusing, just to clarify, I wanted to imply that at the average snow line, go above the average snow line 18-36 inches with screen, location dependent.

My bad if there was any confusion.

 

[cavey]

I go by two things, my root stock/freshly grafted trees get 18" of metal screen till they get bigger and then my transplanted or larger dia trees get 36" to 48" screen wraps (then also consider white paint on the trunk for sun scald protection ( I have found on mine that the screen has been effective at preventing southern exposure freeze/thaw damage alone but many do go the added mile with the paint - some even mix it 50/50 with paint/plaster - just read up on doing that)... mice 90% of the time are munching at the bottom few inches, but rabbits obviously can stand up and chew plus you have to figure on snow depth too so they can damage quite high up on the trunk with the right snow conditions.

 

[j-bird]

That is a rodent of some sort that can spell bad news.

As for how high....consider how deep your snow will get and then go another 12 to 18". The snow will serve as a ladder so to speak for the critters to get higher up on the tree in the winter time. I am going to cover the trunks of my trees up to the first scaffold when I remove the larger exclusion cage.

How to fasten. I don't. I simply make the cage with some, but not a lot, of clearance around the trunk and make certain the bottom is below the soil line a couple inches - this typically does the trick.

 

[Tree Spud]

I use wire cloth ~1/4" mesh for caging. I cut on the end that will be at ground level, 4-5 (3") flaps and bend then outward and they will sit on the ground. This insures nothing, such as mice, can burrow under the snow and get to the tree.

 

[H20fwler]

I use the aluminum window screen and put it as far up as I can, usually to the first branch. Just staple it together and leave room to grow.
And I worry the bunnies all I can in late season with the boys.

 

[Barndog56]

Got them all done today. Just used a rabbit fence that I already had. Will upgrade to the hardware screen in the spring.

Sent from my SM-N920R4 using Tapatalk