DIY fruit/nut tree guards?

Wondering if anytime has an affordable DIY tree guard set-up that works to counter  rabbit and deer browse?

Most common successful recommendations I see on here are double fences(for the deer) and a concoction called "bone sauce" (if you search this term on the site, you'll find many articles).

The truly easy/cheap/foolproof trifecta solution has not yet been discovered - much to my chagrin.

The simplest deterrent for bark nibblers OR trunk climbers is a chunk of metal stove pipe snapped around the trunk, but if you don't have some lying around it can be pricey.

Split and taped or strapped PVC or AB'S pipe will work as well, wood stove install companies may be able to offer used pipe.

Particularly useful for bearing trees, just for the last few weeks before harvest, pull them out, snap on, move to the next tree a few weeks later. Good Luck!

I've used a couple of 2l plastic bottles to save some small bushes from pesky nibblers by cutting off top and bottom to make a sleeve. I suppose you could extend em with with packing tape.

i use cylinders of chickenwire, tied with twine to stakes and moving as necessary due to growth until the tips of the trees are above 6'. i don't do a lot to protect against rabbit browse but haven't had much of it. if you've got a whole lot of trees it could get expensive. i've used scrap i already had on hand.

I am using 4" corrugated drain pipe. A 100' roll is < $40 at my local big box hardware store and it can be cut to size with a box knife. Deer probably require fencing or netting, but this has helped with my bunny issues and I'm hoping will help prevent vole nibbling in the winter. I'm also using shorter pieces for the first couple weeks of transplanting my veggies- giving them a chance to be too sturdy to tempt the voles to nibble.

Every now and then, the local big box home improvement store around me will have vinyl gutter guards for sale that are free after rebate. I connect three of gutter guards together to make a guard. Sometimes I use the full length (3') for taller trees, but usually cutting the pieces down to 1.5 feet in length. The guards work okay for rabbits. I suggest pairing the tree guards with a continual trapping program if you want good results.

Similar to Roy I use milk jugs with the top and bottom cut off.


A friend uses political signs. She bends them into shape and punches holes for air flow

I use a chunk of hardware cloth made into a 2' high 6" diameter tube to prevent the rodents from getting to the trunk.  For deer I get a 50' roll of remesh (it's for concrete flat work) from Menards.  Cut it into thirds and made big circles to protect each tree.  Each circle is about 6' across and stands 5' high.  Stakes aren't really needed since they stand on their own.

I was watching this video Paul made, and it mentioned the tree guards going awry and harming the cherry tree when left unchecked. That had never occurred to me!