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Mandarin Tree full of lovely fruit that passerby keep stealing

I have a lovely mandarin tree it is full of mandarins my whole family enjoys. I wouldnt even mind sharing the odd fruit to polite strangers who have the decency to ask, but I resent the people who stretch to the full extent of their arm through my fence to help themselves and who use their umbrella to hook branches they can not reach, this results in my tree being damaged and other fruits dropping to the floor from the vibrations. These people are stealing plain and simple.

How do I stop this?

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Comments

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @AngryBird. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question.

I'm sorry to hear about your issue. I'm sure that is a frustrating situation.

You could consider:

Covering the tree with crop protection netting will make it substantially more difficult to remove the fruit.

Harvesting the mandarins on the fence side of the tree and preserving them.

Attaching chicken wire across the fence to prevent the culprits from putting their arm through it.

Installing security cameras.

Leaving a basket outside your fence filled with mandarins and a note stating to please take what you need, as removing them from the tree is damaging it.

Those are a few options I can think of off the top of my head. I'd be keen to hear what our other keen gardeners do to prevent similar issues.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

AngryBird

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/13375#Comment_13375

Hi Mitchell,

They are some good suggestions, I think I will look in to the crop protection option, maybe a fruit cage.

I have actually harvested the fruit from the street side of the fence, I have stretched my arm as far through as I can to reach the fruit (and I have a pretty long reach). The people who are doing this are quite rude in my opinion. The tree probably should be pruned as far back from the fence as can be done but it is full of fruit at the moment. I wonder if I can prune the branches I have removed fruit from, sort of a progressive prune. Or would it be better to just wait until the fruiting season is over before I prune?

Kind regards and thank you for your feedback

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/69193#Comment_69193

I'd suggest waiting until late winter before doing a hard prune @AngryBird. If the fruit has already been harvested/taken from those branches, there is probably no real reason to prune them back now.

Mitchell

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/69193#Comment_69193

Hi @AngryBird,

I will be interested to see which method you choose and whether it's successful. I think I would consider some sort of screening option to ensure it was much more difficult for others to see and access your property.

I thought you might also be interested in our step-by-step guide How to prune citrus trees by experienced horticulturalist and wonderful Workshop member @Noelle.

Welcome to the Workshop community. We look forward to reading more about your projects and plans for around the house and garden.

Jason

AngryBird

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/97592#Comment_97592

Hi Jason,

Thanks for the link, I'll have to check it out. Yes I am planning on giving the tree a good prune and then making a fruit cage. Unfortunately the position of the fence makes it difficult to put something to screen up.

What I would like to do is remove all the fruit on that side, but I am worried it will go bad before we get to eat it all. I dont know how long the fruit will stay good off the tree.

Cheers

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/115475#Comment_115475

Hi @AngryBird,

Perhaps you could show us an image of where the tree meets the fence, as that might give our members a better idea of what solutions they could suggest.

Mandarines will typically last between one and two weeks off the tree if kept in a cool, dry place. You can then put them in the refrigerator to extend their use by a few more days. After that time, they are best used in preserves. Have you ever considered making homemade mandarin marmalade? It's delicious!

Mitchell

AngryBird

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/125616#Comment_125616

Here is a diagram of my situation the fence is about waist height from the street side, but chest to neck height on the garden side, there is a piece of wire mesh from some foundations (5cm apertures) that I repurposed but it does little to dissuade people from taking my fruit.. Maybe I should have used razor wire? 😉 I put it there to give people the idea that I would like to keep my fruit, but rude people tend to ignore social ques like this. Diagram of garden.jpg

StevieB

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/132436#Comment_132436

Thanks for sharing @AngryBird. What a frustrating situation.

Are you still planning on making a fruit cage, or using some of @MitchellMc's suggestions?

We'd love to see an update of what you come up with.

Stevie

AngryBird

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136584#Comment_136584

Hi Stevie,

Yes I am planning on a fruit cage, but since I am a total noob at doing anything building related its going to take me a pretty long time to get my ideas of what I want to do.. We want to get chickens and thought the fruit cage could double as their run, but that means something stronger than just bird netting on a frame. I think we will have get some posts in the ground first and then nail some aviary mesh around it and over it too as we dont want wild birds getting in and giving our chooks any diseases, but then maybe its better to have something that is easy to take down so I can move them around, their coop wont be near these trees...

so this little problem of mine has just mutated into a full blown project, and I dont know how to do any of this stuff. At this stage I'm like a rabbit in the headlights and I don't know which way to turn.

As soon as I make any moves I'll let you all know..

StevieB

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139451#Comment_139451

That's exciting. If you search 'chicken' here on Workshop you'll find plenty of great discussions and projects that may be helpful as you plan out your next move.

Here's some to get you started:

'Fencing' for Chickens

Anyone got backyard chickens?

D.I.Y. chicken coop

D.I.Y. chicken coop project

Stevie

pboie

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/13375#Comment_13375

Just a visible message on a notice board might do, like " Smile into the hidden camera - with smiley face"

Although no hidden camera is installed, people will think twice as they might be reported to the police station.

AngryBird

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/69277#Comment_69277

HAaahaa! 😃.. Thats actually a good idea.. I did look at dummy cameras I think they are around $10-15 but then I would have to find a good place to install it.. but the sign could work🤔

AngryBird

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141379#Comment_141379

Thanks Stevie,

I will have a good look at those links you provided.. I'd love to have chooks again.. my set up wasnt the best last time but still go plenty of eggs.

Cheers

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/69277#Comment_69277

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @pboie. It's wonderful that you've joined us, and many thanks for jumping into the discussion.

Great idea about the sign. I'd hazard a guess that calling attention to the fact that it's known they are removing fruit would curb some of the issue.

Have you dealt with a similar issue before?

We look forward to hearing all about your projects and plans around the house and garden and would encourage you to let us know if you ever need assistance or would like to share them with us. You'll find plenty of inspirational projects within the community as our creative members contribute them all the time.

Mitchell

AngryBird

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/97642#Comment_97642

Just an update on my tree.

We have removed all the fruit.. According to my dad, if the fruit is left on the tree too long it will suck the juice out and make the fruit dry (this sounds ridiculous to me I think he is wrong).. and my dad pruned the hell out of the tree (I think its too early to prune, we are in the middle of Sydney winter after all and the tree is in a cold part of the garden).. I'm sure there will be people saying why did you let him if you feel this way, simple answer it makes him happy and I don't care so much now the fruit is off. I am concerned for the trees health though.. is there anything I can do for this tree to ensure it survives the rest of the winter and thrives???

Bonus nobody can steal the fruit now.

Hope everyone is doing well.. Stay Safe

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/115582#Comment_115582

Hello @AngryBird

It's good to hear that you've sorted out the overhang of the tree. However, you are absolutely right and perhaps too much was pruned off the tree. Would it be possible for you to post a photo of the tree in its current condition? It should give our members a better idea of what it looks like and offer advice on how to keep the tree healthy.

Let me tag our experienced members @Noelle and @Cath for any advice on how to keep your tree healthy.

We look forward to seeing the photos.

Eric

AngryBird

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/125692#Comment_125692

Hi here is a photo of the tree in its pruned state. the top of the photo is where the tree ends anyway.. Im so bad at this... the tree is at least 1/3rd of the size it was before pruning

AngryBird

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/125692#Comment_125692

Hi Eric,

I have put up a photo of the tree. you can also see just how close the brick fence is in this photo, the tree had grown in to reaching distance from the fence before its haircut.. and people were able to reach over and grab the fruit... There's no question that it needed a prune, I just dont think it really was the right time to do it. As you can see in the photo there is no mulch and now I am not sure if adding some would help or hinder it..😟

it may need some TLC now..

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/132480#Comment_132480

Hi @AngryBird

Thank you for posting that photo of the tree. I'm glad to know that there are still some branches with leaves on them. This will allow the tree to keep doing photosynthesis. Trees when trimmed excessively have their own defense mechanism. They will sometimes sprout new branches to compensate for the ones that have been cut.

I wouldn't recommend trimming further at this point in time. Placing a thin layer of mulch should be ok to help the tree keep moisture. Only time will tell if too much has been taken off. In the meantime let's just keep an eye on it.

If you have other house or garden projects you need assistance with please let us know.

Eric

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