A key part of caring for fruit trees is to defend them from the pests that may damage them. It is often necessary to protect fruit plants from a wide range of animals; rabbits feed on bark of trunks, which may cause severe plant weakening or death; birds can denude trees of buds, and along with squirrels, may also feast upon the ripening fruit.

Protecting the Bark

To deter rabbits from gnawing and damaging your fruit trees, wrap a cylinder of wire mesh around the trunk. Avoid using forestry type plastic tree guards, as they are not suitable for fruit trees.

Protecting the Buds

The crop production of fruit trees may be adversely affected by birds such as bullfinches feeding on the nutritious centre of the buds over the winter. This can lead to whole branches becoming stripped of buds, making it necessary for the branch to be pruned back entirely so that new shoots may be produced. These new shoots may not begin to produce fruit for two or more years.

Protect buds by placing a net over the trees or bushes over the winter; however, the nets must be removed during snowy weather to prevent damage to the branches. When using netting, it is important to extend the netting to the ground and anchor it well. If there are any gaps, birds or other animals may get in and once trapped inside, may become injured or inflict even greater damage to the plant. Always use netting designed for the purpose; using the wrong type of netting or badly erected netting may still protect your fruit but it can also injure or kill birds and small mammals if they become entangled.

Protecting the Fruit

Ripening fruit may also be protected from birds and squirrels using netting. This may simply be a netting sheet securely anchored to the ground, or for strawberries, draped over a temporary frame. Alternatively, a fruit cage may be used; this is a permanent wooden or metal-framed structure constructed around a fruit plant and covered with wire or plastic mesh. Read on for details on how to make your own fruit cage...