The summer is ending, and I thought it was high time I did a quick fruit tree update. In all, it has been a mixed bag of ups and downs. I found out from my brother who is a pro gardener, that my issue with all the new growth on my new apple and plump trees dying was a caterpillar that creates a little cocoon out of the new leaves and eats them up.
His advice was that it was too late to do anything and they would soon turn to butterflies and fly away. The damage was done but next year I should pluck them off if I see them before they do any harm.
He predicted that things would continue to grow after the little buggers fecked off and he was right. New growth appeared above this area and the leaves looked nice and lush.
I had around 5 apples that were doing ok considering the attacking caterpillars and I was hoping they would ripen.
Even my two plumps looked like they were doing well. My mouth was already watering at the thought of harvest time. This one was starting to redden.
Space invaders
Then suddenly the apples started to disappear. One by one they were gone. I could find no evidence of them on the ground. Then one day I saw a squirrel from my window perched on one of my planters staring back at me as he happily munched away at an apple with a 'What you going to do about it? expression on his chubby cheeks.
Even though it was cute to see I was fuming. There was nothing I could do. He was just being a squirrel doing squirrel things. A few days later all my fruit was gone, plumes and apples alike. All except for one pathetic apple that looked more like a lemon.
Damn grey Squirrels are not native to Ireland but since they were introduced they have all but taken over from the local red ones. I usually don't mind them in my garden as they a playful but now I just look at them as the rats with fancy tails that they are.
All my sweet fruits for this year are gone but hopefully next year there will be more fruit than he can possibly eat. Maybe someone has an idea on how to stop him that doesn't involve the death penalty.
In related news
My cooking apple tree is doing very well after the major pruning I gave it last winter. Lots of big healthy fruit. I'm still waiting for @clodaghdowning to make an apple tart which she has been promising to do for the last few days.
I'll give it another prune this winter to give it a better shape. Last year was the big branches now it will just need a haircut.
The caterpillars might be tiny tree murderers but the butterflies they grow into are pollinators x_x
Does netting work for squirrels?
Maybe some sort of net would work But I think it will look ugly. There has to be something I can do to stop him My brain is a little bit bigger than his.
I don't know if fruit bags are effective against squirrels but they are a smaller footprint and probably a lot more work to put on XD
Good luck :)
Lol... I made the apple pie and it was good! There is still a slice or two left in the fridge for you if you fancy it. Everything was organic, even the sugar. Xxx
Thanks. It was yummy.
You ever see one of those cones they put on dogs to keep them from licking wounds? I bet one of those around the trunk of the tree would keep pesky squirrels out of the fruit. It just has to be wide enough the squirrel can't grab the edge and do some death defying gymnastic stunt to get over it. Also, the wide part of the cone would need to point down. I bet you could make one easily enough from some thin perspex. Just measure around the trunk at the appropriate site, and then use that to define the cone shape, with a little overlap so there's no edge to grab for the squirrel.
Thanks!
Brilliant idea. I might add something like this although I worry it may look like my tree is wearing a tutu.
Excellent concept! Add a ribbon just above, and some crinoline to hide the perspex, and maybe dangle a pair of ballerina slippers on some hose below.
Art!
Off with his head!
We're on Season 11 of Alone - it's all about de headed squirrels!
Beheaded squirrels? That sounds like a positive riot!🙃
Sounds like a good name for a punk band...
Don't tempt me. He may have won this year but I am already drawing up battle plans for next.
This year I wasn’t able to foliage spray various plants around the yard until 2 weeks ago. For the first time ever, the squirrels were eating all the raspberries. But once we started the foliage feeding, I got raspberries again.
But it was too late for the peach tree, all the fruit was gone. So next year…
I wasn't expecting anything this year because I just planted these trees at the end of the winter. Hopefully next year the trees will be more established and produce more fruit for everyone, even squirrels.
What did you spray the foliage with?
It's a custom mix of organic things like SeaCrop, Neptune, etc. For feeding the plants via leaves.
OMG, that picture of the criminal ardille hahaha that was so cute 😂😂
Too bad what happened to you, I hope you can get your crop at some point, but that squirrel was so cheeky eating the fruit in front of you haha too bad, hopefully you can find a friendly solution for the little furry one 🙏
The image was made with the AI generator Ausibitbank has on his discord. Handy for times such as this.
I don't want to go to war with the fluffball but will think of a way of outsmarting him.
It's always so frustrating to lose fruit to pests and animals. Hopefully you'll have a good system in place for next year!
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I'm researching as we speak. There has to be some sort of trick that will let us live in harmony.
Haha I love the pic of the squirrel criminal.
We have birds and possums - if we don't net, we don't get fruit. Little feckers alright.
Have you heardd of the beer method? Stand in the garden, drink a beer, and pick off the caterpillars.
Doesn't work for squirrels though!
I like the beer method, does it work with Cabernet Sauvignon?
It does, yes!!!!
It's very disheartening when nature steals or worse still eats all the stuff in front of your eyes. The horrible bugs have been gnawing at all my veggies leaves in my garden
Bold as brass, he was. I have a lot to learn about how to balance the ecosystem to make sure there is enough food for all.
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