Cultivating fruit trees often means coexisting with local wildlife. Protecting your harvest from hungry visitors is a primary concern, making it important to understand potential threats and how to mitigate damage.
Do Deer Eat Nectarines
Deer are highly attracted to nectarine trees, consuming various parts beyond just the ripe fruit. They commonly browse on tender leaves, young shoots, buds, and twigs, especially on accessible newly planted or dwarf trees. Deer may even strip bark from trunks and branches, which can severely stunt a young tree’s growth or lead to its demise.
Deer have a preference for the sweet, succulent fruit, especially as it ripens, and are known to reach for fruit on lower branches or consume fallen nectarines. This consumption of fruit can significantly reduce a gardener’s yield.
Why Deer Are Attracted to Nectarines
The strong attraction deer have to nectarine trees stems from their nutritional value and palatability. Nectarines are rich in sugars and carbohydrates, providing a concentrated energy source that helps deer build fat reserves, particularly as they prepare for colder months.
Beyond the fruit, deer are drawn to the tender, new growth of nectarine trees, which is easy to digest. Fruit trees can attract deer from considerable distances, making nectarines an appealing food source, especially where natural forage is scarce.
Signs of Deer Damage on Nectarine Trees
Identifying deer damage on nectarine trees involves looking for specific indicators. Browsing marks, characterized by ragged or torn edges on leaves and twigs, are a tell-tale sign of deer feeding. Deer lack upper incisors, causing them to tear rather than cleanly cut vegetation. Missing buds or partially eaten fruit on lower branches also suggest deer presence.
Antler rubbing, particularly from male deer, is another significant form of damage. Bucks rub their antlers against tree trunks to remove velvet or mark territory, especially in late summer and fall during the rutting season. This strips the bark, exposing the inner wood and disrupting the tree’s vascular system, which can severely injure or girdle a young tree, potentially leading to its death.
Protecting Nectarine Trees from Deer
Protecting nectarine trees from deer requires a proactive approach, often combining several deterrent methods. Physical barriers, such as fencing, offer the most reliable long-term solution. Individual tree cages made from chicken wire or mesh fencing, at least 5 to 6 feet tall, can protect young trees. For larger areas, an 8-foot-tall woven wire perimeter fence is highly effective at deterring deer from an entire orchard.
Repellents can also be used as a supplementary measure, creating unpleasant odors or tastes. Commercial repellents often contain ingredients like putrefied egg solids, garlic, or capsaicin. Homemade options include Irish Spring soap or a mixture of eggs, milk, garlic, and cayenne pepper. These products need consistent reapplication, especially after rain, to maintain efficacy. Rotating different repellents can prevent deer from becoming accustomed to a single deterrent.
Scare tactics, such as motion-activated sprinklers, can startle deer with a sudden burst of water and noise. These humane devices can be set to operate during specific times, like nighttime when deer are most active. Additionally, planting certain companion plants around nectarine trees can offer deterrence. Aromatic herbs like lavender, rosemary, mint, chives, and alliums release strong scents that deer tend to avoid, masking the appealing smell of the fruit trees.