Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Moose

Kathy writes~
We live in Alaska and have about a dozen fruit trees. The trees were really doing well until the moose discovered them! Do you have any ideas that will keep the moose from pruning the trees and almost killing them? We cannot go out in the yard and shoo them away from the trees.

A. Plantskydd is the browse deterrent of choice for leading North American forest companies who use it to successfully prevent plantation damage by deer, rabbits, elk and moose to millions of conifer and hardwood trees. Nurseries and landscapers find it to be equally effective in protecting flowers, shrubs and ornamentals. It works by emitting an odor that animals associate with predator activity, repelling the animal before it nibbles plants. The odor is not unpleasant to the applicator. Provides plants with up to 6 months of protection over winter on ornamental shrubs and 3 months on most other succulent broadleaf plants.

http://www.mydeergarden.com/My_Store/Deterrents/Plantskydd.htm

People get upset about moose eating their trees, but it is easier for them to try to prevent that than it is to try to remove the moose. The best way to keep moose away from trees is to put up wire fencing around the branches. Hanging mothballs in a cheesecloth bag from the trees can work and some people have had success hanging up bars of Irish Spring soap.