Critter damage

[amcoffeegirl]

When I moved in to my house I had only one outdoor tree. I was still deciding whether to ground plant it or try to form it into a prebonsai. It is a Chaenomeles speciosa.
Now something has eaten it back to nothing.
How do you protect your outdoor stock from critters? I am hoping to hear ways other than a pellet gun. TIA

 

[Underdog]

I think you are lucky he didn;t get the trunk

 

[Forsoothe!]

A re you suspecting deer or rabbits?

 

[amcoffeegirl]

A re you suspecting deer or rabbits?

I’m thinking squirrels most likely.

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

The jerk cat that lays on my bonsai tends to keep critters away. Couple of my clubs members were talking yesterday about how cayenne pepper sprinkled around the pots can help with some pests.

 

[canoeguide]

Squirrels don't usually do this. I'm voting that it was deer or rabbits.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Squirrels only damage ends leaving them ragged and use them to pick their teeth. Clean cuts are what rabbits & deer leave. I have used malathion, sevin and other strong smelling pesticides. Also, a rag soaked in vinegar deters many critters that depend upon their noses. It ruins their ability to smell good stuff to eat and warning odors of predators. Vinegar is a herbicide, so be careful with it.

 

[Underdog]

My squirrels just dig up the soil to bury the corn that the neighbor puts out,
Birds pull moss off looking for bugs.
So far so good on chewing.

 

[Tieball]

Your pot and tree in it are the perfect height for rabbits. The buffet is open.

I used to get damage like this from rabbits. Now, over the winter months, trees on the ground level have a simple galvanized wire fence surrounding them. I use the fencing that has 1/2” holes readily available. It can be reused year after year. I tried chicken wire fence once. It lacks overall rigidity though and is more difficult for reuse and usually gets crumpled quickly. The 1/2” fencing, with a height of 24”, can simply be cut and made into a cylinder with the ends together with zip ties. Slip it over. Protected. I always add some landscape stakes just so the winds I have over winter don’t blow it over. In your situation, with the pots by the tree, you could simply place the fence to include the tree and it won’t blow over.

Where I could not fence I used Liquid Fence, deer and rabbit repellent. It works very well for me. Smells terrible on application, think rotten eggs, but the order goes away. For me it protects over the entire five months of winter.

 

[canoeguide]

+1 for some 2' high "rabbit guard" fence. It's not too expensive and you can add some burlap to it for wind protection too.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Blue-Hawk-Actual-50-ft-x-2-3-ft-Rolled-wire-Galvanized-Welded-Wire-Rolled-Garden-Fencing/4780625

 

[Tieball]

+1 for some 2' high "rabbit guard" fence. It's not too expensive and you can add some burlap to it for wind protection too.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Blue-Hawk-Actual-50-ft-x-2-3-ft-Rolled-wire-Galvanized-Welded-Wire-Rolled-Garden-Fencing/4780625

That’s what I add over winter now because my trees are in sub-zero windchills for a long time. I use a woven plastic fiber fencing that used to be used at golf tournaments....it is sort of like a 98% sunblock in construction. Really blocks the wind well. I bought several unwanted rolls, a great find at the closure of a Senior PGA tournament, and have enough for several lifetimes.

But I don’t use the fence called rabbit guard. My fence is totally 1/2” holes and also keeps the chipmunks out. Available at Lowe’s, Home Depot and most hardware stores. I think it was like $15 for a 25’ roll. I also bury about 3” deep with fence. Rabbits can’t climb but they do like to dig.

 

[flor1]

If you don’t want to use a pellet gun a 22lr works even better just a little bit more noise.
Coyotes don’t care what squirrels are shot with they gotta eat to.

 

[Silentrunning]

A 75 pound Pit Bull has always worked for me.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Squirrels don't usually do this. I'm voting that it was deer or rabbits.

I do have deer in the area but I have not seen one in my yard. I don’t think they would come this close to the house. I could be wrong though.
I may wrap it in chicken wire or try the pepper spray.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Your pot and tree in it are the perfect height for rabbits. The buffet is open.

I used to get damage like this from rabbits. Now, over the winter months, trees on the ground level have a simple galvanized wire fence surrounding them. I use the fencing that has 1/2” holes readily available. It can be reused year after year. I tried chicken wire fence once. It lacks overall rigidity though and is more difficult for reuse and usually gets crumpled quickly. The 1/2” fencing, with a height of 24”, can simply be cut and made into a cylinder with the ends together with zip ties. Slip it over. Protected. I always add some landscape stakes just so the winds I have over winter don’t blow it over. In your situation, with the pots by the tree, you could simply place the fence to include the tree and it won’t blow over.

Where I could not fence I used Liquid Fence, deer and rabbit repellent. It works very well for me. Smells terrible on application, think rotten eggs, but the order goes away. For me it protects over the entire five months of winter.

I like this idea.

 

[sorce]

I've been observing "feeding to keep what you want untouched untouched" and I have to say it works.

Though a bench may work just as well.

Hey....
Welcome to Outdoor Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Cadillactaste]

I've been observing "feeding to keep what you want untouched untouched" and I have to say it works.

Though a bench may work just as well.

Hey....
Welcome to Outdoor Crazy!

Sorce

This is how I keep my landscape from being destroyed over winter months. I feed them. Offering something more desirable.

 

[Meh]

The deer by me know no fear; they devour my landscape year round. Fortunately in the summer there are more desirable things to eat than bonsai, and in the winter everything is garaged or, if ground growing, surrounded by wire fencing. Easy enough to set up a wire mesh in winter if you don't want something more permanent.

 

[JudyB]

Your pot and tree in it are the perfect height for rabbits. The buffet is open.

I used to get damage like this from rabbits. Now, over the winter months, trees on the ground level have a simple galvanized wire fence surrounding them. I use the fencing that has 1/2” holes readily available. It can be reused year after year. I tried chicken wire fence once. It lacks overall rigidity though and is more difficult for reuse and usually gets crumpled quickly. The 1/2” fencing, with a height of 24”, can simply be cut and made into a cylinder with the ends together with zip ties. Slip it over. Protected. I always add some landscape stakes just so the winds I have over winter don’t blow it over. In your situation, with the pots by the tree, you could simply place the fence to include the tree and it won’t blow over.

Where I could not fence I used Liquid Fence, deer and rabbit repellent. It works very well for me. Smells terrible on application, think rotten eggs, but the order goes away. For me it protects over the entire five months of winter.

yes this.

 

[World Bonsai Police]

I've been observing "feeding to keep what you want untouched untouched" and I have to say it works.

Though a bench may work just as well.

Hey....
Welcome to Outdoor Crazy!

Sorce

Hah! You mean, feed 'em to keep your yard filled with hungry critters around the clock. Your yard will become a five-star destination. The truth is, you can't own a yard full of unmolested tasty plants if you live in the country. You want to know why they had walls around ancient cities? Rabbits and deer. Remember St. George slaying the rabbit to rescue the fair maiden? Ever wonder why the Chinese calendar doesn't have a year of the squirrel? Chinese dragons are just depictions of larger-than-life squirrels.