• About
  • Archive
  • Contact
The Greening of Gavin
  • Home
  • Our Green Shop
    • Little Green Workshops
  • Green Workshops
    • Cheese Making
    • Soap Making
    • Soy Candle Making
  • eBooks
    • Clay Oven eBook
    • Keep Calm and Make Cheese eBook
  • Podcast
    • TGOG Podcast
    • TGoG Podcast Archive
    • Little Green Cheese
  • Vlog
  • Cheese
  • Green Living
    • Chickens
    • Gardening
    • Soap Making
    • Recipes
    • Climate Change
    • Peak Oil
    • Solar Power
  • Resources

Pest Control For Apples

March 5, 2012 @ 12:00 By Gavin Webber 6 Comments

This is the first year that I have had a bumper crop of apples off of my dwarf Jonathan apple tree that I planted in September 2007.  The tree is now 5 years old and producing a lot of fruit for a small tree.

So much fruit, that some coddling moths began to eat a few early, until I unleashed the little beasts!  Once I initially discovered the moth caterpillars in a few apples, I let the Bantams free range in that part of the yard every day for a few hours.  They soon cleaned up the pest problem, and no more coddling moth.  I only let the little girls in this area, as the ISA Browns are so destructive and would not only dig up everything in the other beds, but eat the apples as well.

Then another pest presented a problem.  Small colourful parrots decided they liked the apples and managed to knock off a few only half eaten apples.  I decided to fix their little red wagon with exclusion bags.

I had some laying around, and wrapped each apple or bunches of apples in a cloth bag an tied off the top.  The results were fantastic.  This bunch below were wrapping in just one bag.

The birds stay away because the apples are disguised and so do the moths because of the bantams, which is win-win for everyone.  The little girls even get a few small apples that drop off on their own accord.

These are the best apples I have ever tasted.  I have not found a supermarket apple that even comes close, and the only equal tasting apples have been found at organic farmers markets.

So with no sprays, and minimal work, I produced an apple crop that has lasted us a month so far.  We started picking them a few weeks ago, and I picked the last ones today.  That only leaves the Granny smith and Cox orange pippin in the front yard to harvest in a few weeks time.  I getter go and put the exclusion bags on them now that they are starting to ripen!

-37.6777778144.5686375

Will this article help someone you know? If so help them out by sharing now!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Chickens, fruit, Organic, pests

← Food In Suburban Backyard Beware Of The Moths! →

About Gavin Webber

Gavin Webber's daily goal is to live a more sustainable lifestyle, in an effort to reduce his family's environmental footprint so we can all make a difference for our children & future generations to come.

Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Comments

  1. Theanne says

    March 5, 2012 at 14:54

    lovely apples!

    Reply
  2. Marijke VanderVlist says

    March 5, 2012 at 16:17

    Those apples look so worth the “effort”.

    Reply
  3. hitechtermite says

    March 6, 2012 at 18:46

    I read your write-up. You definitely gave an excellent understanding on Pest Control.

    Reply
  4. Darren (Green Change) says

    March 12, 2012 at 08:59

    Exclusion bags seem to be the only way I can get any yield from my fruit trees at the moment! If I net the whole tree, the bower birds just climb inside the net and feast.

    Where did you get your exclusion bags, and do you have a brand/type that you recommend?

    Reply
    • Gavin Webber says

      March 14, 2012 at 19:11

      I agree Darren.

      Green harvest stock a good range http://greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol/codling_moth_prod.html

      I used these PestGuard Bags, which kept the birds and codling moth at bay (scroll down the page a bit
      http://greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol/exclusion_prod.html

      However, all that being said, I am just going to buy some panty hose and cut them up to do the same job. Much cheaper in the long run.

      Gav

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Home Grown Jonathan Apples - The Greening of Gavin says:
    March 31, 2014 at 20:46

    […]  What we have to do is bag each individual apple to protect it from the birds.  I use simple cloth sacks that you can tie with a bit of cloth around each piece of fruit.  You can read about it in this post titled Pest Control for Apples. […]

    Reply

Comments build lively communities. Let me know your thoughts, but keep it clean and green! Spam is removed instantly. Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search This Blog

Follow my work

About Gavin Webber

About Gavin Webber

An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

Delve Into the Archives

Visit Our Online Simple Living Shop

Little Green Workshops

Latest Podcast Episode

Subscribe on iTunes

Top Posts & Pages

The Seven Stages Of Change
How To Remove Scaly Leg Mites
2 Fruit Marmalade
Strawbridge Family Inspiration
Chicken Hygiene
Clay Oven First Layer
How To Regrow Spring Onions
Infinite Growth on a Finite Planet
Grow Food Not Lawns - 4 Reasons Why You Should Dig Up Your Lawn
Selling Your Own Soap in Australia

Recent Awards

Recent Awards

Local Green Hero

Categories

Favourite Daily Reads

Debt Free, Cashed Up, and Laughing

The Off-Grid Solar House

Greener Me

The Rogue Ginger

Little Eco Footprints

Down To Earth

Surviving the Suburbs

Little Green Cheese

Eight Acres

The Witches Kitchen

TGOG Readers On-line

Podcast Reviews

  • Always inspiring and entertaining!
    August 4, 2016 by floriographer from Australia

    I've crowed about Gavin's podcast before but I just have to recommend it once again - I love that he shares his learning as well as his successes - it helps the rest of us try try try again! Thanks Gavin!

  • ms
    July 22, 2016 by Ketaea12 from New Zealand

    I really enjoy listening to Gavin, he has a kind lovely voice. He covers some great relevant topics for the everyday greenie. With lots of tips or how to or what not to do. Thanks Gavin, love it!!

  • Well worth your time to tune in
    October 23, 2015 by A Vision Splendid from Australia

    I can highly recommend Gavin’s podcast ! I have followed Gavin’s blog since the very beginning and have loved to see his journey unfold. Gavin has a lovely speaking voice so this podcast is always very easy to listen to. Gavin has a very authentic approach to his green living lifestyle. He shares the ups and downs but always provides motivation and practical steps that we can all implement.

  • very good
    June 28, 2015 by Scared pax from United Kingdom

    This is a great podcast if you want to improve your life in so many aspects and become a more sustainable person. I love the soothing voice, the good pace, and it contains lots of useful information. Recommended!

  • opened my eyes
    May 25, 2015 by Gorn4lyfe from Australia

    A wonderful show!

  • Inspiring
    April 30, 2015 by Alan Whelan from Ireland

    This is a great podcast if you're looking for practical info on saving money by living more sustainably from someone who's made that journey over the last few years. Told in a nice, easy conversational style

  • Green Living, inspiring and practical
    January 8, 2015 by EliseMac from Australia

    Thanks Gav for sharing what has (and hasn't) worked along your journey for living a greener lifestyle. Inspiring and achievable for anyone, I look forward to this podcast weekly.

  • Local food equals less waste
    December 27, 2014 by allotmentadventureswithjean from Australia

    Another brilliant podcast from Gavin Webber encouraging us, and showing us how, to cut down on food miles, growing our own food, and cutting down on food waste. Gavin is a really interesting speaker, showing us how to eat better, growing our own food and how to live more sustainably.

  • Honestly australian
    December 15, 2014 by HodgepodgeOz from Australia

    Fantastic podcast, with a wide variety of well thought and researched topics. Gavin is a honest, forthright pod aster with a genuine interest in helping others get green. Like a day alongside is a day wasted, so too is a week without listening to Gavin. Highly recommended for people starting out, or those in the midst of their new lifestyle. Keep it up Gavin, wish there were more great reviews! Kimberley

  • Morning motivation
    December 8, 2014 by Bunnyworm from Australia

    Gavin has a great passion for living this greener lifestyle that motivates others to do the same. The podcasts are always interesting and informative. :)

  • Passionate Advocate
    October 18, 2014 by BoomOpGirl from Australia

    Gavin's enthusiasm and passion for creating a more sustainable world is nothing short of contagious. Thanks Gav, you are my weekly source of motivation for living a sustainable life! :)

  • Gavin speaks from the heart
    October 13, 2014 by Green gavin from Australia

    Gavin's podcasts are required listening for anyone planning to live a more sustainable life. He doesn't preach, but tells you his story from the heart. You'll laugh, smile, share in his concerns and along the way you'll pick up some great tips on living a simple life.

  • Green thoughts, so well iterated
    October 9, 2014 by Kwasikwami from Australia

    This is a wonderful podcast. Not only does Gavin talk knowledgeably on a range of sustainability topics from gardening tips all the way to the issues facing humanity as a whole, but he does so in such a wonderful voice, it's like listening to my Dad, love it!!

  • Easy listening inspiration on being green
    September 24, 2014 by Broomedy from Australia

    Gav knows how to share his journey to a more sustainable life in a manner that shows just how easy it really is. Not to mention healthier, economically beneficial and generally rewarding. The podcasts are an easy way to absorb Gav's great lifestyle. I recommend to anyone.

  • Thanks Gavin!
    August 31, 2014 by Honeywoodmilk from Australia

    Great practical advice for a greener lifestyle. This podcast is for anybody interested in growing their own food in suburbia, saving electricity, brewing beer, making cheese, all that wonderful business and most of all, saving money! Thanks Gavin, love the podcast mate!

  • Enjoyed those ideas for staying warm
    August 15, 2014 by enduringdragon from United States

    Like you we are having winter here in Chile—brrr! Every bit we can save on heating we will.

  • Green Podcasts
    July 26, 2014 by Carneu from Australia

    Excellent podcasts, which are full of information to help get started on a sustainable lifestyle.

  • Practical ideas and inspiration
    July 19, 2014 by HeathrowHeath from Australia

    I highly recommend Gavin's podcast and blog. Down to earth, entertaining and inspirational. Thank you.

  • Interesting & easy to listen to
    April 27, 2014 by Velocity3 from New Zealand

    Gavin & his guests make this green journey lots of fun.

  • Great green listen
    April 18, 2014 by Obscurenickname from Australia

    Gavin is a great down to earth, tell it like it is aussie with a passion for sustainability and growing food and making cheese

Carbon Offset website

Copyright - Gavin Webber © 2023