OK, here we go again. I install hundreds of fruit trees in areas with deer like a Kenya game preserve has antelope. Sometimes big bucks with nothing better to do stand around to watch my handiwork- at least they are bashful enough to keep their distance (a stones throw) until I put up my quick fence rings. Here's what works in all but worst pressure areas and even works in those places except for mulberries, Asian pears and certain luscious apple varieties. By worst pressure area I mean a spot like where an old lady used to feed her herd with corn, building up a very dense population and than died and the corn stopped. The new owner of her property asked me to plant 50 fruit trees- more on this situation later. Keepitlow's construction would really PMO if I had to deal with it every time I need to touch the tree (I would guarantee that it won't work for east coast squirrels or west coast ground squirrels). All I use is a 10' length of 5' tall, 14 gage fencing, a single stake of either heavy steel of usually 2X2", 8' tall pressure treated wood and make a ring for individual trees, hooking it closed with 2 or 3 wires from the fencing itself. You can easily open it to get to the trees in 3 seconds. 14 gage is stiff enough to stand on its own but easy enough to cut. For rabbits I use a 2' tall, narrow ring of chicken wire if it's necessary but my vole protection is usually adequate (plastic spirals) to exclude rabbits as well. Rabbits (and voles) usually only go after apples and sometimes pears IME. On the rare occasion this doesn't work- and most of my work is in a county that only allows bow-hunting and many million and billionaires who own the equivalent of their own private hunting preserves don't allow hunting so pressure is intense. I live a county up that allows shot gun hunting and the pressure, especially from bucks is not nearly so bad although it's bad enough. OK, so here's the problem, my system is not for fully dwarf trees, but for free standing trees that are at the very least of M26 vigor. The point is to grow the tree above the brows line, letting the deer much branches that grow outside the fence and helping to train the trees up. I doubt anyone in a Z5 is growing a dwarf pear tree (that would be on quince, known not to be cold hardy); they would likely be on semi-dwarf stock and capable of rising above the browse line. The apples are another issue. As far as the above mentioned extra high pressure areas, an extra 2 to 4' length of fencing and 2 or 3 more stakes may be required if the bucks decide to stand up on the fencing to browse. Fencing will also have to be very securely wired to posts (I put small notches in the wood. However, for some reason even starving deer don't usually do this, at least here in the southeastern NY area.

You need to make a fence around for some years until tree is big enough to take a couple of nibblings. I have done some with farm wire mesh 5 foot tall, make a loop around and weigh the bottom with a couple of rocks so I can move it easily when needed. I find deer don't test the fence around a tree. Over the years I prune the branches up to my likings, so I can mow around to the trunk with lawn tractor.

Depends. Some deer won't eat wisteria. Some will. At our new home, we have a wisteria vine that is big and healthy, yet the deer love to nibble on the fresh tips of new growth. But my wisteria is so large and healthy that I actually appreciate when they do, as my wisteria is growing out of control. Hahaha. If your wisteria can handle a little nibbling, you may want to try unwrapping the wire protection for a day to see how it goes. If it is too small, then maybe wait until it is healthier and larger when it can take deer nibbles easier. Good luck!

I wish I had some good news for you, but here are the facts: deer will eventually get used to anything if they are hungry enough or like a plant enough. All the products saying they will keep deer away are going to be, at best, temporary. 'Jetting' sprinklers can be somewhat effective, but unless they are motion activated you can lose a lot of money. You can net the trees like many pros do - I believe the netting is available through many garden supply companies. You may anger some birders, though, as birds can get caught up in the netting. The most effective deterrent and the most expensive... a very high fence. We're talking twelve feet. Deer can jump quite high when determined. I always hated giving customers the 'low down' on deer because there's just no easy, inexpensive answer. The very callous response from some people is to hunt them and thin the population so that the native flora is enough to satisfy them. Unfortunately, it's a valid point. Best to you, Ging