Protecting Your Fruit Trees from Pests By Joyce D’Agostino

Photo:  Joyce D'Agostino

Many of us who have fruit trees on our property have planted them in order to enjoy the harvests. In the front range of Colorado, choosing the right variety will ensure that your tree is best suited for the climate and will produce harvests. 

Once your trees have bloomed and the pollinators have done their work you will begin to see developing fruit. The next step may be how to protect that fruit from weather, pests and animals so that the fruit matures and harvests are possible. In addition to storm damage such as high winds and hail, birds and squirrels are known to do a lot of damage to fruit crops. Often they will remove the fruit even before it is ripe or eat some of the fruit leaving the rest to spoil.

Photo:  Joe Mabel
 Wikimedia Commons 

There are some ways to prevent animal damage which includes putting netting over your trees. It is important to explore the options, read consumer reviews and find a product that will protect your trees and not cause harm to birds for example. The netting shown here was purchased online as a pre-made bag type covering and it covers the entire tree, however you can find net or other coverings available by the yard or square foot or individual net bags for smaller groups of fruit.

Photo: Joyce D'Agostino

In addition, there are products that can be sprayed on and around the trees that may help repel the animals that could cause damage. Read the instructions for each product if you choose a chemical alternative to ensure that it is safe to use for your fruit. 
We are experimenting with these net bags and will update in a later blog about how effective they are. This is not an endorsement of any particular brand or product, just one method that we are trying in our home garden to see how it works. These tree bags are supposed to allow air, water and sunlight through the netting which is essential to keep your tree in good health. In addition, we will observe how well this product helps with secondary issues such as protection from high wind or hail damage and insect pest control. We will then report around apple harvest time as to how well this worked for us. Each gardener should take some time to review products that are safe, effective and to also find options that suit your budget. 
The publications listed below review information about growing fruit in the Colorado front range area:

https://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=174717

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/backyard-orchard-stone-fruits-2-804/

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/pollination-of-tree-fruits-7-002/

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/evaluating-tree-fruit-bud-fruit-damage-from-cold-7-426/

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/nutrition-food-safety-health/canning-fruits-9-347/