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Chewed off buds on espalier apple tree

FireFire Posts: 19,096
in Problem solving
I am upset to see that, yet again, all the budding tips on my apple has been chewed off. I planted the tree about six years ago but have had almost no flower (so, obviously no fruit) although the tree itself seems healthy. I was planning to try and act this year to stop the loss of buds, but it seems I am already too late. There are only one or two swelling tips left.  It happens every year. Is it slugs? I always say - give it one more year. There seems no point in keeping the tree.  😞











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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited January 2022
    Bullfinches?

    https://www.permaculture.co.uk/readers-solutions/how-stop-birds-destroying-all-your-newly-emerging-fruit-crops

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    I would suggest those too. What a shame, it's a lovely healthy looking tree.
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I would almost love it to be bullfinches but I've never seen one anywhere near my garden. I did wonder if it could be sparrows or similar. I was thinking about netting the tree, but I should have done it in November, it seems.

    It does provide a kind of high hedge screening when in full leaf - hence the long branches kept at the top. But it would be good to have something that offers flowers. It's in the sunniest spot in the, not very large, garden.

  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    Sparrows?, they take the buds off everything here.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096

    🤬

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I'd say sparrows too. They eat my cherry plum flower buds every year. They went for the acer buds as well last year, but no harm done. More buds appeared later.  
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited January 2022
    They eat your cherry plum flower buds and they grow back @B3 ? Or the acer leaves grow ?

    I could try and net the tree, but it would mean having netting on for six months of the year  - Nov-May. Not an appealing prospect.

  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    floralies said:
    Sparrows?, they take the buds off everything here.
    That's useful to know floralies. I'll take particular notice of mine. 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    The Acer leaves grow back. I never see a cherry plum blossom.😕
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    :(
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