When to remove apple tree cages.

[ToddG]

Do any of you remove your apple tree cages at some point? I was just wondering if the trees can eventually survive without them.
Thanks,

 

[j-bird]

I remove my outer cage once the lowest limbs are roughly 5 feet off the ground. This leaves plenty of the tree beyond the reach of the deer to survive any browsing it may get. I leave the "cage" on the trunk to protect it from rubbing and chewing from rodents essentially forever. Not sure it's required, but as soon as I do - my luck is that a buck will come buy and rub the crap out of it and kill it.

 

[ToddG]

I remove my outer cage once the lowest limbs are roughly 5 feet off the ground. This leaves plenty of the tree beyond the reach of the deer to survive any browsing it may get. I leave the "cage" on the trunk to protect it from rubbing and chewing from rodents essentially forever. Not sure it's required, but as soon as I do - my luck is that a buck will come buy and rub the crap out of it and kill it.

Thanks so much for the advice. I have some 5th leaf trees that are about 16ft tall and I have pruned most of the limbs that were below 5 ft. I think I will remove the large cages and go back with some to just protect the trunk.

 

[j-bird]

Thanks so much for the advice. I have some 5th leaf trees that are about 16ft tall and I have pruned most of the limbs that were below 5 ft. I think I will remove the large cages and go back with some to just protect the trunk.

I'm not an apple expert, but I have been able to do this and not had anything bad happen yet. Just make sure you protect that trunk all the way to the ground as rodents will still try to eat the bark if given the chance. I tend to try to protect the trunk as high as is reasonable as well.

 

[chummer]

I removed some 6' cages today. I put window screen on the trees that didn't have it and replaced the 6' fence with a smaller diameter 3' fence. This will make it much easier to clean around the trees.

 

[WTNUT]

I removed some 6' cages today. I put window screen on the trees that didn't have it and replaced the 6' fence with a smaller diameter 3' fence. This will make it much easier to clean around the trees.

I do the same. Generally, I would not say that I remove them by the fifth leaf, but shortly thereafter. For me, it is all about the size of the trunk and making sure the first row of laterals is 5-6 feet off the ground.


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[Dan Wombles]

Always leave a small cage around trunk, as bucks love to rub fruit trees, exposing them to diseases, which will kill them.