PESTS

After all that work getting your orchard established, all it takes is one attack from possums, rabbits, birds or wallabies to damage (rabbit ringbarking can easily kill) your tree or the precious fruit. It does happen to most people sooner or later, even in suburban areas, and it pays to do some work to prevent it.

For individual trees, a simple net thrown over the tree during harvest may be enough, butsometimes there needs to be a wire barrier all over the orchard, especially near the bush. We have seenvarious methods work: galvanised iron at the base, then wire netting ontop to make a cage. Others have use a "floppy top" fence, in conjunction with electric fencing to prevent possums and wallabies.

Rabits can be a pest when ring barking young trees - a some mesh wrapped 40cm at the base can help but needs to be loosened off after a few years to prevent strangulation. We have had some success painting the bottom 40cm of young trees with bitumen paint. Unless made well, any structure has a weak spot, and often then the pest cannot get out again. Birds and possums can be quite smart - once they know something tasty is there, they often come back for a feast every so often. Weak points are corners and joins in wire or netting. Also overhanging branches or fences that are easily dug under can be the downfall of what seems an impenetrable system!

Otherwise a dog that keeps them at bay can help too, - it would be sad for you to see your hard work and investment devoured by the wildlife.