Deer absolutely love crabapples. These wild fruits rank among their top natural food priorities, among white oak acorns, sawtooth acorns, and persimmons. My experience as a wildlife enthusiast shows that deer's food choices can be unpredictable, yet their attraction to certain fruit trees remains clear.
Deer definitely eat crab apples, but experts disagree on which varieties they like best. Some crabapples disappear the moment they fall, while others stay untouched until food becomes scarce. The deer's appetite extends beyond just the fruit - they occasionally nibble on the trees too. The Dolgo crabapple appeals to both humans and wildlife. People use it to make jelly or cider, while deer benefit from its generous fruit production. The Dolgo variety can retain their fruit until November or December, which makes it valuable to keep wildlife on your property during hunting season.
This piece explores deer's relationship with crabapples. You'll learn about the best varieties that attract wildlife, get practical planting tips, and discover ways to protect your trees when needed.
Do Deer Eat Crabapples?
Deer's appetite for crabapples changes by a lot depending on the variety. Some crabapple fruits vanish right after falling to the ground. Others stay untouched until deer run out of other food sources. This picky eating behavior makes it vital to understand deer's priorities for wildlife enthusiasts and gardeners.
Why crabapples attract deer
Deer love crabapples because of their nutrition and taste. The fruit's bitterness comes from condensed tannins that evolved to keep animals from eating them before seeds mature. The bitter taste fades as seeds ripen. Sugar levels and nutritional value increase while tannin levels drop.
Deer and humans taste things differently. Yet deer can definitely taste sweet, sour, bitter, and salty flavors because of how their taste buds work. This explains why they love some varieties so much. The October Crab™ with its sweet taste tops their list of favorites.
Do deer eat crabapple trees or just the fruit?
Deer mostly go after the fruit instead of the trees. They focus on getting the most nutrition from crabapples. Many varieties grow lots of 1-2 inch fruits that create what people call "deer frenzies" under the trees.
My research shows that deer visit trees with bigger fruits (1.5-2 inches) more often than those with tiny, peanut-sized fruits that dry up on branches. So if you want to attract deer, stay away from varieties that keep their tiny fruits hanging on branches.
Seasonal patterns in deer feeding behavior
Deer have specific times they like to eat crabapples. Some varieties like County Road Crab offer fruit deep into winter. This gives deer reliable food when other options become hard to find.
The most interesting part is how some varieties work. Swamp Donkey or Little Falls start dropping fruits in October or November. They keep releasing them slowly through March. This slow drop really helps attract deer during hunting season.
The way trees produce fruit matters a lot too. Some trees give fruit every year. Others take turns, giving almost no fruit after a big harvest. Property owners get better results by picking varieties known to produce fruit yearly. This helps especially in years when regular apples are hard to find nearby.
Best Crabapple Varieties for Deer
The right crabapple variety can make a huge difference in attracting deer to your property. My research and observations show that some varieties are better than others at drawing and keeping deer around.
Dolgo crabapple
The Dolgo crabapple is a reliable Siberian variety with impressive cold tolerance and disease resistance. It produces large 1-1.5" crimson fruits that ripen in August and September and stay on branches until December. Deer visit regularly because of this extended drop period that creates a steady food source. The Dolgo's extended bloom time makes it a great pollinator for other apple trees.
Chestnut crabapple
The Chestnut crabapple is your best bet for early-season attraction. This variety yields sweet 2" apples that ripen in early September. Deer can't resist these fruits! The Chestnut crab resists common apple diseases like apple scab, cedar apple rust, powdery mildew, and fireblight effectively. It grows well in zones 3-8 and can reach over 20 feet at maturity.
Native southern crabapples
The Southern crabapple (Malus angustifolia) gives you a native option for wildlife attraction. This small tree reaches 20-30 feet and grows well in pine woodlands or mixed woods. Its small quarter to half-dollar sized fruits taste astringent and bitter, but deer and larger mammals love them anyway. A grove of these native crabapples creates an excellent habitat for various wildlife species, not just deer.
Sweet vs bitter fruit types
The fruit's sweetness level affects deer preference substantially. Sweet varieties like October Crab™ attract more deer than bitter types. Deer usually eat sweet crabapples as soon as they fall, while bitter varieties might stay on the ground until food becomes scarce.
Browse our selection of crabapple trees to pick the perfect variety that matches your wildlife management goals.
How to Plant Crabapple Trees for Wildlife
Crabapple trees can attract more wildlife to your property when planted in strategic locations. Deer love these trees, so proper planting techniques will help your trees thrive and produce plenty of fruit.
Choosing the right location
Your best spots for wildlife attraction are along property edges or driveways where fallen fruit won't create cleanup headaches. Stay away from high-traffic areas where deer might become a nuisance. A spot with good air circulation will reduce disease problems. Trees on south or west exposures might bloom earlier and risk flower damage from late frosts.
Bare root vs container trees
Bare root trees come with several benefits: up to 200% more roots than container trees, they cost less, and establish faster in their natural environment. These trees need planting during dormancy (late fall through early spring). Container trees let you plant year-round but might develop root-bound problems if they stay too long in pots.
Spacing and sunlight needs
Keep crabapple trees 15-20 feet apart to ensure proper air flow. This spacing prevents diseases and gives mature trees enough room. Your trees need full sun - at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day for the best flowers and fruit. Trees in too much shade produce fewer flowers and fruits, which makes them less attractive to deer.
Soil and watering tips
Crabapples grow best in well-drained, moderately fertile soil with pH levels between 5.5-7.0. The planting hole should be twice as wide as the root ball. Give your tree a deep watering after planting and keep the soil consistently moist during its first year. These trees become drought-tolerant as they mature and need only 15-20 inches of annual moisture. A 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base helps retain moisture and keeps weeds away.
Browse our selection of crabapple trees to find varieties that will bring deer and other wildlife to your property.
Protecting Your Trees from Deer and Other Wildlife
Deer love eating crabapples, but your newly planted trees need protection until they're 2-3 years old. Here's how you can protect them from wildlife damage.
Tree guards and fencing
Young crabapples need tree guards to survive. White plastic corrugated guards that are 24 inches tall work well against rabbits and mice. To keep deer away, you can put fencing around each tree. The best setup uses 6-foot welded wire attached to metal T-posts in a square formation. Deer won't jump into these small enclosed spaces.
Preventing rodent damage
Mice, voles, and rabbits can seriously harm young crabapples through trunk girdling. You can mix black carborundum sand with white latex paint to create a trunk coating that stops rodents from chewing. Another option is to install ¼-inch mesh hardware cloth cylinders around trunks and bury the bottom 2-3 inches in soil. Note that these protections need regular checks, especially after heavy snowfall when rodents can tunnel easily.
Mulching and weed control
Good mulching helps trees thrive but needs careful attention. Wood mulch should stay at least 6 inches away from trunks so rodents can't nest. Regular mowing around trees until late fall reduces places where rodents can hide. During winter, clear snow from around trunks to eliminate hidden feeding paths for small pests.
Conclusion
Crabapples are without doubt one of the best plants to attract deer to your property. These versatile trees serve multiple purposes - they provide beautiful seasonal blooms and create reliable food sources for wildlife. Deer prefer sweet varieties with larger fruits, especially those that fall slowly through fall and winter as other food becomes scarce.
The crabapple variety you pick determines how well they attract deer. Dolgo crabapples keep their fruit longer, and Chestnut crabapples give sweet options early in the season. Native Southern crabapples attract deer well in groups despite their smaller, bitter fruit.
Smart placement makes these trees more effective. They work best at property edges away from busy areas, which lets deer feed safely. The trees need full sun to produce lots of fruit and enough space between them for good air flow.
New trees need protection until they're 2-3 years old, so adding tree guards or fencing helps during early growth. These safeguards combined with proper mulching and weed control help your crabapple investment grow strong.
Crabapples are great additions to any property where deer roam, whether you plant them for hunting or just love watching wildlife. Their adaptability, resistance to disease, and appeal to wildlife set them apart. Watching deer gather under crabapple trees during fall harvest shows nature's perfect match between these magnificent animals and their favorite fruit.
FAQs
Q1. Are crabapples attractive to deer? Yes, crabapples are highly attractive to deer. Many varieties of crabapples are favored by deer, especially those with larger, sweeter fruits. Deer tend to prefer crabapples that drop gradually throughout fall and winter, providing a steady food source when other options are scarce.
Q2. What is the best crabapple variety for attracting deer? The Dolgo crabapple is an excellent choice for attracting deer. It produces large crimson fruits that ripen in August and September but persist on branches well into December, creating a steady food source that deer regularly visit. Other good options include the Chestnut crabapple for early-season attraction and native Southern crabapples for consistent deer visits.
Q3. Do deer eat the entire crabapple tree or just the fruit? Deer primarily target the fruit of crabapple trees rather than the trees themselves. They are attracted to the nutritional value and taste of the crabapples, especially varieties that produce larger fruits (1.5-2 inches). However, in some cases, deer may browse on the trees if other food sources are limited.
Q4. How should I plant crabapple trees to attract wildlife? To attract wildlife, plant crabapple trees along property edges or driveways, away from high-traffic areas. Ensure they receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily and space them 15-20 feet apart for proper air circulation. Use well-drained, moderately fertile soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH, and water consistently during the first year of growth.
Q5. How can I protect young crabapple trees from deer damage? To protect young crabapple trees from deer damage, use individual tree guards or fencing. White plastic corrugated guards (24 inches tall) can shield against smaller animals, while 6-foot welded wire fencing attached to metal T-posts provides comprehensive deer protection. Additionally, proper mulching and regular mowing around trees can help deter rodents and other pests.
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