How To Choose The Right Tree Guard

Many factors influence the choice of Tree Guard. There are several factors to consider before foresters or farmers make the right choice for protecting trees from the types of damage.

Height- How high do the plastic tree guards used to prevent damaging？

Tree guards are available in different heights, the minimum height must always be greater than the height of possible damage inflicted on trees by animal. The standard heights of tree guards currently on the market are 50 cm for rabbits and possums, 60 cm for hares, 120 cm for roe deer and sheep, and 180 cm for red deer.

Weight and Mesh- What is the standard weight and mesh for tree guard?

There are five weight categories for mesh tree guards: Lightweight (≤ 150 g/m2), Standard (± 200 - 250 g/m2), Medium weight (± 250 - 350 g/m2), Heavyweight (± 400 - 450 g/m2) and Ultra-heavyweight (> 500 g/m2).

• Lightweight tree guards used to deter rabbits, hares, and small rodents from damaging small trees, shrubs or vines in forests, parklands, orchards, and vineyards.

• Standard tree guards protect small woody plants from rabbits, hares and roe deer.

• Medium weight tree guards are used to protect trees from roe deer damage.

• Heavyweight reinforced double-mesh tree guards are recommended for high deer densities and are increasingly used.

• Ultra-heavyweight is a new type of tree guard with innovative features that are recommended for protecting hardwoods in agroforestry plantations from roe deer damage.

Diameter-How to choose the diameter for tree protector?

The diameter of tree guards depends on the type of tree to be protected. The standard diameter of tree guards currently on the market are 10 cm to 15 cm for poplar; 14 cm to 15 cm for cherry, ash, maple, red oak; 20 cm to 25 cm for oak, beech, walnut, service tree, douglas fir, larch; 30 cm to 33 cm is acceptable for conifers.

Vine Shelters With Training Stakes

Materials- What are the main materials for tree guard manufacturing?

Tree guard is mainly manufactured from PP, PE, and PVC. The sale price of PVC is lower than that of PP and PE. But we can't choose the tree guard by price alone. PVC should be avoided. It has a short useful life and contains chlorine which is an environmental hazard. PP is sturdier and more rigid than PE, but it is more sensitive to oxidation, becoming fragile and brittle with age. PE is a relatively good choice because its particular molecular structure guarantees the elasticity and tensile strength. The mesh guards made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are a good choice for total tree protection. Less marks will be on the thin bark when the tree guard eventually tear. The expandable mesh guard made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a good option for partial protection. The mesh eventually breaks as the tree grows in girth without injuring the tree.

Color- Does color of tree guard have effect on the growth of the tree？

Color has less effect on the growth of the tree, the most common colors for tree guards are black, blue and green, other colors like dark brown, beige, grey are also supplied by some manufacture. But the color affects the final cost: blue and green tree guards are 2.5 % to 3 % and 7 % to 8 % more expensive, respectively than black ones.

Tree Guards Can Be Made In Different Colors

Costs- What does the costs of tree protector mainly includes?

Expense is an important factor to consider in choosing tree guards. This includes the cost of materials, delivery, installation and depends on the type and the weight of the tree guards. What’s more, it is necessary to find a trusted manufacturer or supplier.

Vine Protectors           

In short, choose tree guards that are appropriate for your cultivars is a big thing. New growers should contact individuals who have used the tree guards to learn how to do it properly and what mistakes to avoid. And if you need any help, our AGROW team would like to try our best to help you, Click Here to call an expert.