The sad tale of my apple tree

Imagine my excitement when I discovered that not only did our flat have a small garden in which I could grow things to eat but also towering above it (and taking all the sunlight from my tomato plants) was an apple tree. A beautiful great thing that blossomed triumphantly in May and then started to form small fruits. How lucky, I thought, because I love apples. I dreamed of nothing less for months. Come September, there would be crumbles, pies and chutneys galore. I would be baking apples stuffed with honey and raisins for pudding. I would be piling apple into cakes for tea, and freezing stewed apples for the future. I thought I’d never buy an apple again. But here we are, it's apple season, and I have scarcely a single fruit left.

The squirrels, on the other hand, are full of them. For the last few weeks, they have been shaking the branches, bringing them down, ferrying them off to break apart or bury in the flower beds. I scare them away when I’m at home, but there’s no way I’m staying in all day because I happen to have a squirrel problem.
The apples not ruined by the squirrels have fallen onto the patio, where they lie, bruised, reminding me what could have been. The few I have tasted – I made one crumble and one cake –were not even that nice. Sort of bitter, perhaps thelack of sun this summer is to blame. So, what to do? Are squirrel-ravaged fruit trees common and how does one avoid ending up with one? Please advise, sympathise and send me apple-y commiserations.

Comments

[Mel]

I also have a huge squirrel problem.

They have eaten sweetcorn, tomatoes, beans, dug up onions (then upon trying them decided that they don't like them after all!). They have even had a go at my rhubarb, again, they would try it (and therefore kill that particular stalk) and decide that they did not like it. Unfortunately, they did not seem to try the leaves, which might have brought a natural conclusion to the squirrel problem, but there you go.

I have had to resort to covering my garden in a series of chicken wire cages, which is both impractical for harvesting, and not very attractive to look at. As an organic gardener, I am loathe to poison the little blighters, but do not possess an air gun either to despatch the varmint!

I have tried coating stuff with Chili powder, but they seem to become immune to it's effects after a few days. I would also be very grateful for any other things to try in a garden in the middle of London.

[Peter Smart]

Dear Anna,

So sorry to hear about your plight. You must be fed up. The best I can offer you is an invitation to our organic garden in a Surrey village to pick as many of our organic Bramley cooking apples as you'd like to take home with you. We usually have 1000 lbs a season and most gets composted. We just can't eat more than a small number and have great difficulty finding anyone to take them. Others in the village have the same problem. So come for an afternoon in the country and learn about how I keep one of the most 'sustainable' gardens in the borough.

Regards,
Peter

[hedgewizard]

First, ask yourself how important the apples are to you. Really think about it. By the way, the ones you've been getting off the ground may not have ripened properly before being torn down!

Option 1: Distract squirrels with alternative food source as soon as apple destruction begins.

Option 2: Acquire squirrel-terrifying pet. A yorkshire terrier is my best tip, but this might be a bit extreme.

Option 3: Kill squirrels with gun or trap, and eat same (HFW gives a recipe I believe). This is quite easy if your convictions allow.

Option 4: (The option I chose with our walnut tree) Resign yourself to eating what the squirrels deign to leave you. Depressing, but true.

Option 5: Find out which of your neighbours is feeding the squirrels; if that stops, they'll move out!

Want to borrow my rifle?

[Brien Comerford]

I commend you for feeding squirrels the most nutritious apples and foods that they have ever had. They have short lives and these intelligent creatures of God feasted thanks to your hard work. God bless you !

[Jan]

Yes, we have a squirrel problem too (despite one of my neighbours allegedly shooting them!). I suppose planting a cobnut tree wasn't the most sensible idea I had...I would have had a really good crop this year if the squirrels hadn't torn them all off before they were even ripe and then scattered half-chewed cobnuts everywhere in the garden. They've also dug up my pansies! I was thinking of getting one of those super soaker water pistols.

[Eco Worrier]

Mel - my sympathy is with you. Get the air rifle out, I say.
Peter - thanks for the offer. Very kind, and I'm very tempted, but a little underpressure at moment as I'm handing in the first draft of my book "Snails in my Handbag" next month, so any fun trips to plunder Bramley apple trees will have to wait - til next year?
Hedgewizard - you are right, a little acceptance of these squirrels and their habits is probably what I need.
On the other hand, Jan, let me know how you get on with that super-soaker. It is the solution that most people offer when I explain one of two problems: squirrels and cats peeing in veg patch.
AS a final word, my mother has just told me she caught a squirrel tearing through the kitchen the other day, having stolen a nut from the table. For downright cheekiness, that beats everything!

[sorella]

that is not good news

[joana]

haha,
you have a huge squirrel problem.
and i am not gonna help u
i will let the squirrels eat all your apples
no more apples for you
haha........
no more apples for you
i support the squirrels.
yai squirrels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!bye....

[amy swenser]

u r a mean person
let the animals eat the apples
they are poor creatures
you dont deserve sympathy,they do
im with joana
i support the squirrels.

[damie]

squirrels are dirty andgrusome furry yucky smelling beasts who deserve nothing but pain.
the only way to end this problem is by a simple but beautiful method called killing.
the best way to kill a s is by a riffle or a rat trap.
if you catch a squirell punish it by roasting it a life.
that will teach the beasts to not steal those apples.
dont forget to make the fire extra hot before roasting thost dirty little monsters
DOWN WITH THE SQUIRELLS!!!!