There exist fruit-set retardant chemicals (essentially plant hormones) that
will cause early flower drop and thus preclude fruit formation. These
chemicals are supposed to be innocuous enough, but be sure to investigate
them fully.

Short of that, I know that a pesticide called sevin (carbaryl) at the right
dosage may also cause flower abscission in the apple group, but I would put
up with the rats myself.,,,

Or get up on a ladder and wassail the darned fruits off.

Good luck

--
Mike LaMana, MS, CTE
Consulting Forester & Arborist
Heartwood Consulting Services, LLC
Toms River, NJ
www.HeartwoodConsulting.net



"99windstar" wrote in message
news:nHyOd.16454$uc.13475@trnddc04...
This question is going to seem weird but I am sure you all will
understand. I have an Apple tree and Pear Tree. Our first year in our home
we didn't have any fruit. Last year we had fruit on both. Along with the
fruit we had rats! We diligently picked up the dropped fruit but still had
rats. Our first year when there was no fruit there were no rats. My
question is how do we stop the trees from bearing fruit? We don't want to
cut them down, they are nice trees but the fruit invite unwelcomed guests.
Any ideas?