The War Goes On

I thought it was done, at least for a few months. It's been quiet. No insects and the diseases are dormant for the winter. except for the skunk and possum that I have to chase away from the cat's food dish every night, I thought my battle with nature was taking a break until Spring.

The whitest Skunk I've ever seen.

This morning I found two of my newest fruit trees rubbed by deer. They like to rub their antlers on small trees. I've heard that they do it to rub the velvet like fuzz off the antlers, I've heard they do it to mark their territory. I don't care why they do it but I want it to stop.

Fatally wounded Nectarine

They've gotten all the way around my only Nectarine and gotten half way around my Granny Smith apple tree. I 'm pretty sure the Nectarine's a goner. The apple might make it if the damage stops.

I had a couple of old signs in my workshop from a painting contractor we hired several years ago. One of those made a couple of field expedient tree guards this morning. With a thick band of duct tape to secure them, I hope at least one of these trees survives.



We've already had a couple of hard frosts.



Cold weather hit us early this year. I got out my mower this morning and cut down the few still standing corn stalks and cut down the Asparagus.

a tangle of asparagus before mowing

I'm home from work for a few days so I hope to get some winter work done in the Garden. The strawberries got a layer of straw mulch a few weeks ago from the majority of a bale left over from a scarecrow 4H project.

strawberries under straw

I've got grape vines that need to have all their vines removed down to just 4 short main branches. Once they're pruned, the vines are nothing more than 4 sticks with little barbs left along each one.



And the fruit trees will need a hard pruning. All of the branches growing up will be removed to help the tree grow spreading and as flat to the ground as possible. This keeps the fruit from overwhelming the roots and allows good sunlight and air penetration. 80% of the wood will be removed to grow back next year. I'll post before and after pictures when it's all done.

a peach tree that needs a hard pruning.