What to do about apple tree?

[MamaRaisingBoys]

Hoping someone has a clever idea that we’ve not thought of!

We have an apple tree in our garden. Today my almost 2yr old ds appeared with a handful of tiny ones, just bigger than a large grape. When I looked there are loads on the ground beneath the tree. Ds puts everything in his mouth still so I’m worried about choking.

I’ve been looking at ideas to fence the tree off but can’t seem to find anything online that would be suitable. Ds is the type to make a beeline for the tree now he knows he’s not allowed to go near there.

Any ideas on how to keep ds from them aside from checking every single morning for fallen ones? Also worry he could pull them off tbh. He is supervised in the garden but I do like to get on with things in the kitchen and keep an eye from the window. Plus the tree is right at the far end.

Any ideas gratefully received

Oh the house is rented so cutting it down probably not an option

Bump

Tell him in no uncertain terms that he is not to eat them. Tell him they are bad and poisonous.

Nothing clever about it, just what we were all told years ago about laburnum seeds and deadly night shade.

You have to bend around nature. Not the other way round which would be cutting the apple tree down because it does not suit you

Tell him to bring them to you to be cut up for eating. Once he’s had a taste while they’re not ripe he’ll loose interest surely?

How big is the tree?
If you thin out the fruit by removing any apples where there are 2-3 off one place to leave just 1 you'll get less falling and a better crop.
Failing that a few stakes (even kebabs sticks) and some tape around the tree for a few weeks until they are big enough to not be an issue.

I don’t think telling him they are bad and poisonous is going to cut it sadly, he likes to put the ‘ball’ in his mouth as a game. Wish it was that easy!

Thanks for the other tips, will try them and see

Stake and tape, I'll bet if you ask on your local groups someone will have a roll of that orange builders flexi stuff.

June drop .

I think you just have to be firm on this one. A quick, loudish 'uh uh!' every time he goes to do it and he will soon stop.

Search olive net on google, or any search engine, the net is used around the tree to catch fruit before it falls onto the ground

June drop... annoying but normal and temporary.
Pick em up or keep him away. It's only this bad for a couple of weeks. The little ones will soon be all gone and the rest will get bigger & be more firmly attached

Thin the crop, as a pp said.

Please don't put up an olive net they are dangerous to birds.

There are estimates that millions of birds die a year due to their use when harvesting olives for oil.