I started off using 4" black ADS drain pipe around my orchard trees, then went to tree wraps, then to aluminum window screens or wire hardware cloth (1/2" squares) to keep rabbits etc from chewing on my fruit tree trunk bark. I've been painting the trunks w/ white latex paint to help prevent cracking from the warm winter sun on a cold day. Any idea if this latex paint will also help deter bunnies from chewing? I've heard it also helps deter borers where applied and haven't noticed anything yet where I've painted. What do y'all like to use to protect your trunks (if you do anything at all)? I've got around 100 trees & maintenance takes time...
Rabbits etc. girdling trees w/ latex paint
- Thread starter coolbrze0
- Start date
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
I've heard of people mixing hot pepper in the white paint to stop rodents from gnawing, but I've never tried it. I will stick with the window screen for that.
I have used white latex paint before to prevent sunscald, but it is a pain to do, and I don't like the looks of it. I have several trees with no protection from sunscald. So far, I've had it to happen to only one tree, and that tree had such severe damage that it eventually broke off at the point of damage. Open the following links to see everything:
3 years later after saving a sunscaled apple tree | Deer Hunter Forum
Case Study of Severe Sunscald on a Liberty Apple Tree | Deer Hunter Forum
On the last 15 fruit trees that I set, I am trying something new to protect from sunscald. I'm setting up a sheet of thin metal (flashing that is cut from a roll) on the southwest side inside the cage and attaching it to the cage with Gorilla Tape. This is shading roughly the lower 18 inches or so of the trunk from the sun. I suppose that sunscald could happen higher on the tree, but I don't think that is very common. Time will tell if my metal shading works well. Actually, anything that shades the lower part of the trunk from the Southwest winter sun should work just fine.
I have used white latex paint before to prevent sunscald, but it is a pain to do, and I don't like the looks of it. I have several trees with no protection from sunscald. So far, I've had it to happen to only one tree, and that tree had such severe damage that it eventually broke off at the point of damage. Open the following links to see everything:
3 years later after saving a sunscaled apple tree | Deer Hunter Forum
Case Study of Severe Sunscald on a Liberty Apple Tree | Deer Hunter Forum
On the last 15 fruit trees that I set, I am trying something new to protect from sunscald. I'm setting up a sheet of thin metal (flashing that is cut from a roll) on the southwest side inside the cage and attaching it to the cage with Gorilla Tape. This is shading roughly the lower 18 inches or so of the trunk from the sun. I suppose that sunscald could happen higher on the tree, but I don't think that is very common. Time will tell if my metal shading works well. Actually, anything that shades the lower part of the trunk from the Southwest winter sun should work just fine.
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Hot Pepper - I have used hot pepper in various ways.
For tree trunk protection, i simmered vegetable oil with hot peppers - this would be similar to the red flakes used for pizza.. then "painted" it on tree wrap and let it "dry" before wrapping the tree. Worked well. Protecting against mice/moles from ringing the trees. The mice/mole population in my area varies based on the tree mast production and I have not had a measurable mast production in my area in about 6 years, so, I have not done it in awhile, as the mice/mole population is low now.
For root protection and generally to keep rodents away from small and seedling trees. I sprinkle flakes around the base of the tree. Generally in the fall, and in spring as well where nuts are still attached to seedlings. This does help to protect moles from the roots and mice from the trunks. I use this all the time for potted tree seedlings to help protect against squirrels digging them up.
Rodents definitely do not like the heat from hot pepper.
I also sprinkle milogranite around trees, but it only lasts 2 weeks or so and you have to do it again.
Correction.. being 66 it is easy to confuse voles with moles and yes, I was protecting against voles.. Sincerely - club 66 hehe..
For tree trunk protection, i simmered vegetable oil with hot peppers - this would be similar to the red flakes used for pizza.. then "painted" it on tree wrap and let it "dry" before wrapping the tree. Worked well. Protecting against mice/moles from ringing the trees. The mice/mole population in my area varies based on the tree mast production and I have not had a measurable mast production in my area in about 6 years, so, I have not done it in awhile, as the mice/mole population is low now.
For root protection and generally to keep rodents away from small and seedling trees. I sprinkle flakes around the base of the tree. Generally in the fall, and in spring as well where nuts are still attached to seedlings. This does help to protect moles from the roots and mice from the trunks. I use this all the time for potted tree seedlings to help protect against squirrels digging them up.
Rodents definitely do not like the heat from hot pepper.
I also sprinkle milogranite around trees, but it only lasts 2 weeks or so and you have to do it again.
Correction.. being 66 it is easy to confuse voles with moles and yes, I was protecting against voles.. Sincerely - club 66 hehe..
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Forgot about the hot peppers, may have to add that in next Nov. when I paint again. I also use screens but was wondering if there was a better option. Seems like that may be my best bet against rabbits / chewers. Other than bears, my main problem is with voles (not moles - moles are carnivorous & eat bugs, worms, insect but voles which eat the tree roots). After my bare root trees make it past the 1st season, I haven't lost any, but the 1st winter I always lose some. Don't think there's much I can do about voles eating the roots in a 1.5 acre orchard w/ 100 trees though...
Gravel Road
Well-Known Member
Don't know why I didn't think of this. I make a powdered mix of habanero, garden salsa, and jalapeno that is used wherever I don't want critters. Works great, and have never had a packrat problem in ground blinds since sprinkling the powder around. We call it "death dust"
I took a walk around the orchard last week & had very minimal chewing on my new fruit trees this year. I only saw 2 gnaw marks on 1 tree, that was it. The straight latex paint definitely worked, this is the least chewing I've had so far in my orchard. Which says a lot b/c we've had one of the coldest winters in many, many years & had snow on the ground for about a month which never happens...
