"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?



Interplant with rat-traps?

More seriously after two years I would not be so certain that the only
reason rats arrive is the fruit. You need more information before coming to
a conclusion. Rodents often have quite cyclic population swings that may
have nothing at all to do with your fruit. Have you talked to neighbours
about the rats? Have you looked around for other sources of rat food and/or
shelter for them?

If you are convinced the rats come for the fruit you could trim off the
immature fruit after flowering I suppose.

David