Tips from Lisa Johnson, Dane County UW-Extension horticulture educator. This week, we’re reprinting a question Lisa received from a reader regarding rabbits attacking his young apple trees during this tough winter. Here it is:

Dear Lisa: I planted two ‘Ida Red’ apple trees last spring. They started out the spring at about 5 feet tall. They had wonderful new growth all summer. Great. This winter the snow was deep enough for the rabbits to chew on all the old lateral branches. They chewed some way back and others not as bad. I have tree tape and tubes on the trunks. I shoveled the snow away after I saw the damage. Should I prune the wounded ends back to a bud or just leave it? What would you suggest? Hasenpfeffer anyone?”

Dear Reader: Use hardware cloth with a one-quarter-inch mesh (I call it chain mail for plants) and stake it to the ground a few inches out from the trunk. You can get it up to 36 inches tall (which still isn’t tall enough some years!).

Yes, prune back damaged lateral branches to an out-facing bud that won’t lead to a new branch growing back into the inside of the canopy. Here’s a link to the pruning guide for fruit trees: http://learningstore.uwex.edu/Training-and-Pruning-Apple-Trees-P411.aspx .

Fruit trees, especially young ones with thin bark are particularly attractive to rabbits, voles, mice and deer during the winter, especially in years with deep snow. I would protect them for at least the first five years. It is not uncommon for me to receive several calls and emails about this problem every winter, so I know you are not alone!

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