Lemons, with their bright color and tartness, are a popular fruit for many gardeners. While their strong acidity might suggest they are unappealing to most wildlife, many animals are attracted to them, causing damage to trees and harvests. Understanding which creatures are responsible helps implement effective protection strategies.
Common Lemon-Eating Animals
Several animals find lemons appealing. Rodents, such as rats and mice, are frequent culprits. Roof rats (black rats) are known for eating lemons, often stripping the rind from fruit still on the tree and leaving the pulp intact. Agile climbers, they seek the fruit’s moisture and nutrients, especially during dry periods, and may also use the rind to sharpen their teeth. Mice also nibble on the skin of lemons.
Squirrels consume citrus fruits, including lemons, eating the fruit and damaging bark and shoots. Opossums, being opportunistic omnivores, also eat lemons, often consuming the entire fruit, especially fallen ones. Skunks also scavenge for fallen lemons.
While not a primary food source, deer may sample lemons, especially when other food is scarce. They often eat foliage and fruit from young trees and can damage trunks by rubbing their antlers. Birds, though generally not keen on tart citrus, can occasionally peck at lemons, especially varieties like Meyer lemons. Species like cockatoos, chickens, and parrots eat the fleshy pulp and can damage citrus trees.
Beyond mammals and birds, insects also damage lemons. Citrus thrips feed on young leaves and fruits, causing scarring, while katydids and caterpillars chew on leaves and fruit. Scale insects and bronze orange bugs weaken the tree by sucking sap, making fruit unpalatable or causing it to drop prematurely.
Protecting Your Lemon Harvest
Protecting your lemon harvest from animal damage involves a combination of strategies, using humane, effective deterrence. Physical barriers provide reliable protection; netting can be draped over trees to prevent access for birds, squirrels, and larger animals like deer. For young trees, wire mesh cylinders around trunks deter deer and rabbits from browsing foliage and bark. Trunk wraps also protect the tender bark of young trees.
Sanitation is important for pest management. Regularly removing fallen fruit from around the tree base is important, as decaying fruit attracts pests like rodents and insects. Pruning lower branches makes it harder for climbing animals like rats to access fruit. Keeping the area around the tree free of weeds and debris reduces hiding spots for pests.
Repellents offer an additional layer of defense. Homemade sprays with dish soap, vegetable oil, and water can deter some insect pests. Natural scents, such as garlic or chili pepper sprays, also repel certain insects and animals due to their pungent aroma. Companion planting with herbs like basil or mint, or flowers like marigolds, can deter pests or attract beneficial insects. For deer, strong-scented plants or coffee grounds spread around the tree base act as deterrents.