Kristen Tyson, M.A.
Apples are a fruit that humans have enjoyed since the early
1600s, when the first tree was said to have been brought over by English
settlers. The diverse uses of the apple, and help from the catchy story about
Johnny Appleseed, has led the apple to be the second most consumed fruit (with
oranges in the lead) in the United States. There are over 2,500 varieties grown
in the states, and an average of 50+ pounds consumed per year by Americans (with
around 19 pounds being fresh apples) (1).
It turns out humans are not the only species to enjoy the
crispness of apples either. A broad range of animals have been known to cross a
fence boundary or two to get to these rich fruits, to the annoyance of landowners.
But what if I told you that wildlife can benefit from an orchard, not just an
apple one, and in turn benefit you?
Old, abandoned orchards have proven to be ideal habitat for
wildlife, offering food, cover, and nesting opportunities for large and small
animals. A study on deserted orchards found that the whole tree, not just the
fruit or nuts, afforded ample nutritional resources for mice, bats, deer,
rabbits, turkey, coyotes and bobcats, especially during the winter months when
food is scarce. And, the herbaceous ground cover from un-manicured trees and
rows offered great successional habitat. Aside from the trees and fruit or nuts
offering abundant resources, overgrown grasses and shrubs invite insects to
feast, which is a great protein source for recently hatched young.
Rio Grande turkeys roosting near an abandoned orchard
Orchards were quite popular before the 1960s, but it has
gotten harder and harder to find these jewels. If this is the case, planting a
wildlife orchard, over food patches or crops, can achieve the same results,
with a little time and patience. The good news about planting your own trees is
that you can choose how dense or sparse you want the landscape to be and what
kind of trees would best benefit wildlife. Experimenting has shown that
“hardiness, disease resistance, productivity, and late season availability are
key attributes for wildlife orchard trees” (2). Remember to plant trees that thrive in your
soil and can meet the chill hours suggested (3).
Invariably, deer or other wildlife may be attracted to your
orchard before you are ready, and studies “indicate that protection from deer
browsing during the first season after planting trees is most critical. When
young trees grow vigorously, protection for as little as 2 years after planting
may prevent serious damage from deer browsing” (4). Like with any other
agricultural production, safeguarding early against pre-browsing, weather and
insect damage will yield best results for your orchard.
A study on avocado orchards in California found that
“agricultural lands have potential to contribute to conservation by providing
habitat or facilitating landscape connectivity” (5). For this particular study,
mammalian carnivores (coyote, skunk, bobcat, raccoon, etc.) were monitored by
trail cameras with the idea that agricultural landscapes offer an important
corridor and should be considered when creating a management plan. They found
that where orchards were planted in quality carnivore habitat, the mammals were
more likely to visit the orchards over nearby protected natural areas. While there
were many factors that could have contributed to this preference, it is
interesting to find that so many species enjoy fresh produce.
Orchards can vary in their management plan, depending on
what wildlife species landowners seek to attract. A more open and trimmed back
orchard will entice brood-rearing animals and native birds, while a more
shrubby orchard with herbaceous ground cover will draw in wildlife more adapted
to a less exposed habitat such as white-tailed deer.
If you are planning on simply viewing wildlife interactions
from your back porch, then a more open concept would fit best. Pruning back
trees can also benefit hunters who can take advantage of a higher perch for
their wildlife viewing, and with a little skill, harvest.
Contact your local County
Extension Office for more information on planning your wildlife orchard.
Literature Cited:
1. Binghampton
University Newsroom. “Ask a Scientist.” Web. 21 Jan. 2011. 6 Sept. 2014. http://www.binghamton.edu/news/the-newsroom/ask-a-scientist/?date=2011-01-31
2. Jackson,
Jeffrey J. “Wildlife Orchards-Plant Your Own.” Wildlife Trends.” 7:6 (2007).
Print.
3. Year Round
Gardening for Metro Houston. Chill and
Low Temperature Zones for Southeast Texas. Web. January 2013. 6 Sept. 2014.
http://yearroundgardening.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/zone-summaries-revised-zone-summary.pdf
4. Mower,
Kerry J., Thomas W. Townsend, and William J. Tyznik. “White-tailed Deer Damage
to Experimental Apple Orchards in Ohio.” Wildlife
Society Bulletin, 25:2 (Summer, 1997): 337-343. Web. 6 Sept. 2014. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3783452
5. Nogeire, Theresa M., Frank W. Davis, Jennifer
M. Duggan, Kevein R. Crooks, and Erin E. Boydston. “Carnivore Use of Avocado
Orchards across an Agricultural-Wildland Gradient.” PLOS One, 8:7 (2013): 1-6. http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchObject.action?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0068025&representation=PDF
Additional Resources:
Cotner, Sam, and
Frank J. Dainello. “Texas Home Vegetable: Gardening Guide.” AgriLife
Communications at Texas A&M University. Web. 10 Sept. 2014. : http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/organic/files/2011/03/E-502_home_vegetable_guide.pdf
Fact Sheet
for Fruit and Nut Varieties for Texas: http://harris.agrilife.org/files/2011/05/fruitnut.pdf