ninnymary
Garden Master
For the last 2 years I've noticed that rats had chewed every one of my apples. In addition this year, they have caused a lot more damage. They have gone after my Violette De Bordeaux fig tree and a new Dwarf Meyer lemon tree. They also ate 2 big parsley plants. They started on my lime tree but luckily they didn't chew that up much and then abandoned it.
After all season long, there seems to be some good news. The parsley has been growing and they have left it alone. The Meyer has tiny new growth that hasn't been touched in several weeks. Each morning though there are 2 new bites on that poor little fig tree.
There has been much more chewing on it since these pictures were taken.
I need to hear from you all to see if my fig tree will survive losing so much bark. I'm not sure it will fruit this year because a lot of the tips where the nodes were are gone.
What do you think? Will my fig make it? Will it produce fruit this year? Should I think of replacing it and keeping the new one in a pot on my deck until my problem is gone or minimized?
We have tried everything. Traps both the old fashioned kind and electrical zapping ones, poisons, and lately Bonide Rat Magic. I've talked to Vector our county control pest and they didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. As a last resort we are thinking of getting a feral cat though neither my husband nor I are fond of them. We will be taking to someone from a feral cat organization to answer all of our questions.
After all season long, there seems to be some good news. The parsley has been growing and they have left it alone. The Meyer has tiny new growth that hasn't been touched in several weeks. Each morning though there are 2 new bites on that poor little fig tree.
There has been much more chewing on it since these pictures were taken.I need to hear from you all to see if my fig tree will survive losing so much bark. I'm not sure it will fruit this year because a lot of the tips where the nodes were are gone.
What do you think? Will my fig make it? Will it produce fruit this year? Should I think of replacing it and keeping the new one in a pot on my deck until my problem is gone or minimized?
We have tried everything. Traps both the old fashioned kind and electrical zapping ones, poisons, and lately Bonide Rat Magic. I've talked to Vector our county control pest and they didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. As a last resort we are thinking of getting a feral cat though neither my husband nor I are fond of them. We will be taking to someone from a feral cat organization to answer all of our questions.
Rats do that? Crazy, I thought rabbits where bad when they girdle the tree a few inched up. But those rats can CLIMB and chew. YIKES I do not think I would plant another fig as they seem to be the rats favorite. Wait until you think they are gone. Good Luck. 
