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Chewed off buds on espalier apple tree

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  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    It might be worth leaving it up just until the blossom bursts. The sparrows don't touch the buds until they're beginning to swell so you probably could get away with netting for a shorter time.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It seems too late for this year. Which is a bastard. Cos I thought I was getting ahead of the game by checking it out in Dec. I wouldn't take the tree out until summer, if at all. I guess I could try netting this week coming and see if any blossom comes of it.

    I do like the tree as a shield to next door - a flat hedge.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    When I had apple trees, the sparrows never touched them, and we have loads of them here. The bullfinches didn't touch them either, although they aren't in the garden very often. 
    I wonder if it could be pigeons, although they never touched the buds either, so I don't know if they actually go for them. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Mr. Vine EyeMr. Vine Eye Posts: 2,394
    Oh what a pain! I had that the first two years, but they just took off the first shoots when they started to grow in spring.

    They regrew though, but that was just leafy growth rather than fruit buds.
    East Yorkshire
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    A neighbour has given me some netting, so I might see if that helps or if the horse has bolted.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    It seems to be squirrels here eating my flower buds, they seem to especially like clematis buds.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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