Protect, Overwinter, and Plan.
Protecting trees from deer and varment.
Once there is a consistent snow cover it’s time to protect from deer or invite them in. Apple trees get the most damage from deer nibbling at the tender twigs as well as bunnies and mice nibbling the trunks. I use hardware cloth at the bottom of the trunk staked into place with wickets. The trees put in this spring will get 3 ft fence cages staked in with re-bar. The young trees may need wind protection as well and the tree can be wrapped in burlap or the cages can be wrapped. Second-year apples received bird netting, whatever sticks through the net will most likely be nibbled off.
Young or new planting under four feet can be protected with wire fencing formed into three-foot cylinders. These cages can double as composters during the growing season. They can be held into place with rebar and zip ties. Note the hardware cloth shield at the base of trunk for protection against mice and rabbits. Before these were set (before snow) a heap of composted manure was dumped at the drip line or about a foot away from the trunk. The fertilizer will help in the spring when the tree starts to leaf out. This type of cage is also used on nut trees and can be easily doubled in height by attaching a slightly larger cage at the top and held in place with cross sticks.
Overwintering
The beets that were succession planted in late summer will remain in the row tunnel. Unfortunately, the wire hoops collapsed from the weight of the snow. This will be left in place till the snow melts and be re-adjusted in the spring. Next year plastic conduit or a stronger support will be needed to keep a row tunnel in place. There was also the rodent problem discussed in November. We can see bobcat tracks circling the perimeter of the garden, so hoping this will keep the rodent population down.
This year attempt to overwinter carrots and spinach a weed block material was used. Under the cover, I laid in some oak leaves to help protect the spinach. I have used a row cover in MA successfully for a nice early harvest of carrots and spinach, but unsure how this will work in NH.
