Voles attacking apple tree?

 
Hi.

I have four three-year-old apple trees, all planted on a north-facing
slope in a valley in East Cornwall. I gave them all deep mulch
(including old carpet), cleared the pervasive bracken away and erected
seven-foot-high wire netting cages around each to ward off deer (I have
seen roe deer around). This year for the first time three of them
cropped and look healthy.

Sadly, the remaining one – although the same variety as one of the
others – briefly showed leaflets and buds in the spring, which then
withered and died. I could see no telltale bites, scrapes or insect
infestation, or any canker so I left it alone to see whether it would
regrow the leaves (we had a very dry April, which might have had an
effect).

This week, with no signs of growth, I scraped bark away and then snapped
twigs off and it's all brown inside. I'm no expert so I can't be sure
but I suspect the tree is dead.

Somebody suggested either honey fungus as the cause (what does this look
like?) or voles burrowing underground and nibbling the roots. I have
removed all the old carpet and mulch but can see no holes. We do have
holes in a bank about 30 feet away and the cat has caught a few rodents
in the garden, so it is quite possible.

I have three questions:
1. How do I check to see if voles are the culprit?
2. How do I get rid of them?
3. How do I stop reinfestation?
4. What else could it be if not voles? I am convinced the cause is
either airborne or underground, as there is nothing visible topside. I
do have a black mulberry about 40 feet away which has canker, but one of
the other apple trees is closer to it and appears fine.

It is a damp climate but the trees are two old local varieties so
shouldn't suffer. The soil is on the acidic side but otherwise fine. I
had a soil expert from a local university analyze the soil before I
bought the land and she produced a long list of ingredients and
pronounced it highly suitable (she also has an orchard so I trust her
knowledge). Unfortunately I have lost touch with her!

Thanks for any tips and suggestions.




--
hellomabel

 
hellomabel;937415 Wrote:

Honey fungus produces fairly large toadstools in clumps and thick
bootstrap-like mycelium by which it spreads. You'd see it if the tree
was already dead. 'Armillaria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia'
(http://tinyurl.com/44jqjsn ) It's unlikely it would kill a new fruit
tree if it wasn't already in your garden killing lots of other stuff.


If the tree is just 3 years old, and died, you should be able to pull
the tree up fairly easily and have a look at the roots, and see what is
going on.  There's one area of my garden, along a south facing wall,
where I'd like to grow fruit trees, but I've tried a few times and they
just die when I try.  The roots never get going. I've decided it must be
something in the soil, building waste or something.  Maybe the tree you
were given was no good. Perhaps it was potbound. Maybe there are insect
pests (eg vine weevils) eating the roots.  Voles seems unlikely.




--
echinosum

 hellomabel wrote:

  drought can kill a newly planted tree.
carpeting and mulch can prevent moisture from
leaving the soil but it can also soak up
moisture or form a crusty layer that sheilds
the soil from soaking up moisture too.



  some mulch is ok, but carpeting might be enough
to suffocate the roots of a tree or otherwise
limit the growth.  remember the soil and roots
need oxygen too (unless the plant is suited to
wetland/water habitat, which isn't the case
for apple trees).

  voles often will leave tracks through the grass
that you can see where they are running.  also
you can trap them with mice traps and that
will tell you if you have them about.  you can
use peanut butter, old bacon ends, as bait (they
are omnivores).  they look nothing like a mouse.  
you'll know if you catch one, they are dark grey
and shaped like a plug not pointed like a mouse
and they have tiny black teeth.


  songbird

 
'songbird[_2_ Wrote:

Thanks for the tips. I doubt the soil is too dry (it's a damp area) and
the other trees haven't suffered at all.


The vole info is particularly useful, but how big are they? Mouse-size
or bigger - a year ago I saw a rodent that was plug-shaped but much
bigger. There's no grass in the area - it's all tall weeds like bracken
(hence the need for weed-suppressing matting).


Thanks again.




--
hellomabel

 hellomabel wrote:
...

  4-6 inches.  shaped like a plug.  heftier.


  songbird