Homesteaders

[Chicken girl 15]

I have heard of people hanging sheets under the apple trees to catch windfalls. I don't see why nets wouldn't work the same

Maybe attach the net with zip ties to just enough strong branches to keep it put? No harm in trying right.

 

[Fuzzy Moto]

Maybe attach the net with zip ties to just enough strong branches to keep it put? No harm in trying right.

I would envision using 5 or more "X" legs that radiate from the tree base that are stabilized with a couple of long boards on the outside radius (that would reach to just about the outer limbs of the trees) and then string a fine mesh netting on top of it so the wind falls are cradled until you can collect them. Just my thoughts. Probably be expensive to do all of them at once, but could build a couple a year.

 

[KlopKlop]

I would envision using 5 or more "X" legs that radiate from the tree base that are stabilized with a couple of long boards on the outside radius (that would reach to just about the outer limbs of the trees) and then string a fine mesh netting on top of it so the wind falls are cradled until you can collect them.  Just my thoughts.  Probably be expensive to do all of them at once, but could build a couple a year.

This is what I was envisioning too. You would need to pick the falls often, daily at least so the didn't bruise by falling on each other but you would surely get more apples from fewer trees this way.
We even discussed laying tarps or sheets on the ground to help us pick up the windfalls that way too. Those would be used as animal feed then.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Right now my only animals are chickens and dogs and neither eat enough apples to bother with. Thanks for the "x" frame idea. I will probably try it.

 

[duluthralphie]

This is what I was envisioning too. You would need to pick the falls often, daily at least so the didn't bruise by falling on each other but you would surely get more apples from fewer trees this way.
We even discussed laying tarps or sheets on the ground to help us pick up the windfalls that way too. Those would be used as animal feed then.

I only have my two sickly trees, but between the turkeys, chickens, dogs and deer they are cleaned up daily.

 

[KlopKlop]

I only have my two sickly trees, but between the turkeys, chickens, dogs and deer they are cleaned up daily.

My chickens did a good job cleaning up the windfalls too. I am hoping that will help cut down on bug issues this year

 

[duluthralphie]

My chickens did a good job cleaning up the windfalls too. I am hoping that will help cut down on bug issues this year

I could always sell you some of natures bug vacuums this spring, Keets are so cute too...

 

[Beekissed]

This is what I was envisioning too. You would need to pick the falls often, daily at least so the didn't bruise by falling on each other but you would surely get more apples from fewer trees this way.
We even discussed laying tarps or sheets on the ground to help us pick up the windfalls that way too. Those would be used as animal feed then.

You could just let them fall and then gather them to sell as "deer apples". Some folks make quite a bit of money around here doing that with excess windfalls. Just got to stay on top of them so they don't rot too much before they could be sold.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

My chickens did a good job cleaning up the windfalls too. I am hoping that will help cut down on bug issues this year

Mine do. They saved my garden from the grasshoppers. MIL lives just up the road, no chickens, no garden.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Bugs not so much a problem. The chickens love them. Its the slippery yard that smells like apple cider . The kids think it's neat to smash the windfalls all over the place. So my yard is nasty, no bugs the girls eat them, just slime .