A Helping Hand for Old Apple Trees
By Glen Wunderlich
A sure sign that deer season is upon us becomes obvious each year: bags of bait at every corner store and gas station. High on the list of preferred foods is apples and this year Michigan has them in record numbers. While I’m not into hauling buckets of bait to the field, I am well aware of where the wild apple trees are growing; so are the opportunistic deer.
To begin, I am not an expert on the subject of growing fruit trees, but I am smart enough to know where to turn for advice. In Ed Spinazzola’s book, Ultimate Deer Food Plots, an entire chapter written by Charlie Morse (www.MorseNursery.com) is devoted to the subject. Also, on the website provided, a forum is available for those that have specific questions.
Charlie describes how to choose trees for planting and how to protect them from damage in the wild. All good stuff, but what if you already have some established fruit trees that have been neglected over the years? Here are some tips to bring them back. Read more
