[Kleftiwallah]

To protect the fruit buds from frost, I'm thinking of draping the fruit cage with fleece OVER the existing mesh.  The distance from the fleece to the uppermost buds will be 4" to 6" getting greater as we go down the tree.

Will this be effective or does the fleece have to be as close as possible to the buds?  I don't want to knock buds off when fitting the fleece which is why I came up with the above possible solution.

Awaiting your knowledgeable replies.   Cheers,  Tony.

[Blackpool rocket]

Bearing in mind I'm no expert I would say that what you suggest is a good plan. You will have trapped (hopefully) some "warmer" air under the fleece but aren't stressing the buds. Give it a try & let us know the results. I'm continually having a zero crop from my cherry. I'm doing nothing to it at all this year except a bit of feed.

[Lardman]

The distance from the fleece to the uppermost buds will be 4" to 6" getting greater as we go down the tree.
Will this be effective...

I would think so  and it's certainly far more protection than mine are going to be getting.

[Kleftiwallah]

The cherries were scrumtios last year, I'm hoping for more!  To stop the rain (and possibly more snow) allowing the fleece to droop I've inserted a couple of props (old curtain rails with knobs on).

Cheers,  Tony.