I'm here at Bonsai by the Harbour doing a demo on AusBonsai and someone asked a question about rats ringbarking their citrus trees. We couldn't find the answer in the search function so I am posting the question.
P.S. Some people in the audience here have some questions;
Is someone feeding the birds to attract them?
Have you considered throwing food over the neighbours fence so the birds head there?
Maybe you could get a large plastic eagle and hang it up? Or someone else suggested hanging CD's up to scare them away.
Hey Steven
At the Gardens in Orange they have wrapped the trunk to protect it. Not sure if that is any help
It's too bad your in such a hurry cause the stories I could tell you, Bushels and baskets of stories, hole crates full of stories. But if you can spare a moment I will tell you one story.
I was afriad you would ask that. I can't remember exactly I will have to look again next time I go and I will let you know.
Hi Lynette
I couldn't find enough Ice to put the kids on
See you at the Tops
It's too bad your in such a hurry cause the stories I could tell you, Bushels and baskets of stories, hole crates full of stories. But if you can spare a moment I will tell you one story.
G'day Steven, I have the same problem at my place. I have noticed though that they do not chew deep enough to kill the tree(not here anyway)one i thought was gone has burst back into life.. It seems they only take the juicy top layer. O.K it will be a big rat so you need a possum trap or bushrat trap put it in your Bonsai area set it up with half an apple on the trigger or hook and you will have the culprit within hours. They love apple. After capture take them at least one kilometre away and release. ( i dont like or condone killing them)
"Advice is rarely welcome, and the one's who need it the most welcome it the least"
I'm here at Bonsai by the Harbour doing a demo on AusBonsai and someone asked a question about rats ringbarking their citrus trees. We couldn't find the answer in the search function so I am posting the question.
Can anyone offer any advice how to stop this?
Regards,
Steven
Resident Ringtail possums!!! did it to a friends citrus trees here in melbourne. relocation??? or ...
I have seen many people tie shopping bags to their fruit trees to keep birds away. Also if you have the cash, i have also seen nets over the tree for the same purpose.
Last edited by Krusty on June 13th, 2010, 4:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
A friend re-trained problem visiting animals (she suspected a dog in this case) to avoid her potted plants by dusting the ones that came under attack with cayenne pepper (hot cooking spice). Might be worth a shot if you are not into killing the offenders.
If baits are acceptable to you try the wax cubes (they don't break down if wet) and put them inside a plastic bottle (like a 2 lt. cordial bottle - you'll have to break the wax cubes in half to fit through the neck). Keeping baits inside the bottle allows rats and mice access but stops birds and most other things from getting at them.
I've used nets for my fruit trees for many years with great results. Our home orchard is the "only game in town" for the local birds with the next fruit trees that I know of better than 7ks away. If I didn't net them we'd get no fruit. I use the heavier white net. I found that the fine net was a nightmare to put on and off and could tangle the occasional bird (Major job with ladders, leather gloves etc to get them out). The heavier white nets have been in use for many years now (I'm sure of at least 7 years) and are still going, so that makes them good value. They do get the occassional hole putting them on or off, and from determined cockies, but are easily repaired by sewing them up using "trout weight" (4lb 2kg) fishing line in my sewing machine as thread.
I bought my net by the metre to suit the size that I prune my trees to. I lay the net on the ground and roll half up then lift the rolled section onto the high point of the tree from one side (I use two brooms (as arm extensions) to get the height I need), and roll the net down the other side. I try to reverse the process to remove them. My nets don't reach the ground; I lace them up using venetian cord and an old bagging needle (for sewing up bags of spuds). This way my trees are bagged but stock can graze beneath them without getting tangled in the nets - should work for kids and dogs, too.
Pup
