Comments on: Deer + Drought = Disappointment

By: P. Allen Smith

P. Allen Smith — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:14:39 +0000

Hi Janet,
Marge has been really busy lately with her new research project. You will be hearing from her soon!
Best Wishes,
Alllen

By: Darlene Freeman

Darlene Freeman — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:13:31 +0000

The deer use to break off our young trees until we placed chicken wire fences around each tree. Those without fruit got fences just around the trunks about a couple of feet out from the trunks. Those trees that fruit were fenced with the chicken wire ten feet out from the trunk on each side. These cages kept the trunks and limbs from being snapped by the antlers and kept the deer from eating the apples and other fruit. The blue jays get a lot of the fruit on the trees too large to cover with bird netting. So we planted more trees so there is plenty for all.

By: Janet Cloak

Janet Cloak — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:39:28 +0000

Allen—There have been no words of wisdom from Marge in a long time. I miss them and her! ………..Janet

By: Pwallin

Pwallin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:01:55 +0000

Hello Fran, just thought I’d pass along that here in Florida agave syrup can be found at Walmart. You may want to check one near you – good luck!

By: P. Allen Smith

P. Allen Smith — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:40:23 +0000

Fran, just add a bit more sugar…. Don’t let not having the agave nectar get in your way!
enjoy!

By: Fran Leach

Fran Leach — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:39:48 +0000

I have never heard of agave syrup and doubt whether I will find it here in the country.
Can I substitute? Would like to try the recipe.
Thanks, Fran

By: Lauren

Lauren — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:11:02 +0000

Those sorry rascals damaged a couple of our Leyland Cypress trees. It was interesting tho- we cut away the fractured upper limbs on one of the young trees and a brave lower limb stepped up and took over the leader position. Looks great now after a couple of years.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 03:38:08 +0000

We in Washington state have a huge problem with deer. The antler raking is horrible. Our solution has been to cover the lower trunks with chicken wire hooked around the lowest branches. We also make tripods of metal stakes around small trees. Very time consuming but it works. Unfortunately, the deer then start in on rhododendrons and other shrubs. We may have to go the dog route soon!

By: Rafael Rodriguez

Rafael Rodriguez — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:30:25 +0000

We don’t have deer in Montebello, CA but nothing I do seems to help fend off insects in my apples. I have a 13 year old tree planted from Red Delicious apple seed. The apples have reverted to a former variety and are green with a slight red and gold hue when they ripen. Problem is I haven’t tasted but a few over the last two years. Ants and a tiny beetle-like insect get to them before I do. I have sprayed with an environmentally safe spray but it doesn’t seem to work.

By: Rosedale Garden

Rosedale Garden — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:21:31 +0000

I didn’t have problems in NW Alabama with the deer damaging my fruit tress as I have 3 Border collies who love to chase things. However I did loose several fruit trees and a few young dogwoods due to the 13 yr cicadas. One of my pear trees I lost fruited for the first time this year. The oldest tree was a 10 yr old apricot. Mary

By: Tamara

Tamara — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:52:15 +0000

Nice simple recipe. But when there’s cinnamon, I need nutmeg–my fave spice! I’m looking forward to using agave as a sweetener in some other ways too. Haven’t seen it locally yet though.
As for apple crops, a grape vine wound its way to the top of my dwarf golden apple tree and the ripe bunches of purple grapes look great alongside the yellow apples.

By: Judy

Judy — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:02:57 +0000

Maybe if you planted rosemary around the base of all the apple trees it would repel the deer. A bumper crop of both apples and rosemary would be fantastic for fall and Christmas giving!

By: dave

dave — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:17:13 +0000

Send or put some pics of those deer rubbing on your site or my email. thanks

By: Betsy

Betsy — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:00:04 +0000

Allen, we in the JoDaviess County of Illinois have trouble with deer year round, but especially in the fall, winter and spring. We have lost many trees to the deer antler rub, until we started putting black drain pipe around them. We take it off in the summer, so that we don’t “bake” the trunks in the summer. So far, we have saved our beautiful maples we planted in the front of our home. Quite the lesson learned.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:51:34 +0000

My sympathies on your apple crop, Allen. Meanwhile my dog developed a taste for cherry tomatoes this summer. And just broadened his palate with some of the precious few heirlooms harvested this week, that happened to be on the counter ripening.

By: Lina Fletcher

Lina Fletcher — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:19:36 +0000

Uhg….deer. I love watching their antics and interaction with my kitties, but they sure make me cross when they tromp through my garden and nibble on things. I have a large selection of ‘deer resistant’ plants, but I don’t think the deer always read the same books!!!

By: Annie Haven | Authentic Haven Brand

Annie Haven | Authentic Haven Brand — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:13:09 +0000

wonderful recipe I will try it this week. I have a wonderful apple tree producing some beautiful apples with just the right tart taste and prefect crisp snap I like when you bit into them. Thank you Allen