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**Raylo** · 03-30-2009, 06:28 AM

I have a few really nice blueberry plants on my townhouse deck. Last year I got exactly zero fruit because of the birds and squirrels. My house backs to the woods and there are zillions of critters. The birds swoop down out of the trees and feast. The squirrels leap from deck to deck and then jump into the pots and climb the plants to eat their fill. They also like to dig in the pots which destroys roots.

I have solved the digging problem by placing wire mesh screens in the pots with holes cut out for the plant trunks. I am considering several ways to combat the pests getting the berries including bird netting and an electric fence wire rigged to stop the squirrel assualts. Maybe use the existing mesh screens for the ground plane. Also considering making some sort of frame out of pvc pipe and covering with chicken wire.

None of these methods will be visually attractive but what can I do? Anyone have any experience/suggestions?

03-30-2009, 06:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
Raylo TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 525 OS: XP Desktop, Vista HP Notebook, XP Notebook	[SOLVED] critters! I have a few really nice blueberry plants on my townhouse deck. Last year I got exactly zero fruit because of the birds and squirrels. My house backs to the woods and there are zillions of critters. The birds swoop down out of the trees and feast. The squirrels leap from deck to deck and then jump into the pots and climb the plants to eat their fill. They also like to dig in the pots which destroys roots. I have solved the digging problem by placing wire mesh screens in the pots with holes cut out for the plant trunks. I am considering several ways to combat the pests getting the berries including bird netting and an electric fence wire rigged to stop the squirrel assualts. Maybe use the existing mesh screens for the ground plane. Also considering making some sort of frame out of pvc pipe and covering with chicken wire. None of these methods will be visually attractive but what can I do? Anyone have any experience/suggestions?