BEST Tree Guard How To Build and Install

[@glennlittle3491]

I've cut rolls of welded wire to length using a skill saw and a metal cutoff blade while it's still rolled up which saves quite a bit of time. Lots of sparks though!

[@heherttu]

I wonder what kind of tools they use to cut these into smaller rolls at the factory?

[@TheCeruleanSea]

Thank you! I've just started planting my orchard this month, and I've been agonizing over the right sort of guards for the least price. Problem solved!

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Congrats on starting to plant.

[@midwestribeye7820]

Same here! Just planted 3 service berries and 2 plums. I hope your first year went well!

[@todd1388]

Love this video! We use this for keeping rodents out of homes also. You can replace broken screen vents with this, trench and screen around foundations to keep them from digging under structures.

[@drekfletch]

I have been watching for years, now. I *JUST* got the inTREEgued pun.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Good one.

[@sdoylie]

Great video. I have to make these tree and shrub guards of various sizes in Australia to protect against kangaroos and rabbits. I find using ‘C’ or ‘J’ clips instead of cable ties last far longer.

[@brieannerice5862]

My problem is that my cats, although excellent at keeping the rodents away, love to scratch on my trees and make them sad. It's always something, isn't it? Thank you for this video and you have a new subscriber.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Put some posts throughout your garden. The cats will use those and scratch your fruit trees less. You can always wrap your trees in a wire mesh or mosquito netting, cats don’t like to scratch that.

[@brieannerice5862]

@@StefanSobkowiak I will do that. Thank you!

[@susheela108]

Love all your videos! I've forwarded to family and friends who are just starting out. We are sorta, but need all your tips!

[@silverleapers]

Angle grinder is faster and easier. Wrap as a roll for the size you need and one cut does it all.

[@heherttu]

Interesting thought. I might just try this.

[@bethl9825]

Quite timely. Cleaning up around the farm, wondering how to guard all the existing and soon to be planted trees, finding my rolls of 4’ mesh covered in snow a neighbor had given me. Next step is finding stakes.

[@DrRock2009]

16mm rebar is good for stakes

[@joshanderson1901]

I prefer aluminum window screen to do the same thing. Good advice.

[@joshanderson1901]

*Use office stapler to staple the ends shut on the window screen.

[@kingjames4886]

this is pretty much the solution I settled on to protect my saplings from pests, except I zip-tied the ends together and set the cylinders around the tree.

[@reapgoodness]

Great information! This fall I planted 3 apple trees and will protect them from the voles. Thanks!

[@matthewtaylor2185]

The cats keep the voles in check and we do have a problem with rabbits, but the cats find apple tree bark irresistible scratch post material. Can't get rid of the cats, but they can climb and jump above mesh.

[@belieftransformation]

Awesome tutorial; thank you!

[@jampackedfamilycountrylivi8022]

Great advice. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@davidhalley9795]

Great video! I have no idea what’s chewing on my very young Meyer lemon tree. I’m thinking rabbits which I’ve seen in the front yard. My tree is in a fenced in backyard and no underground critters. It’s only been in the ground a year and gave me two lemons. However, a lot of thin branches are chewed off, including the two lemons. The trunk is quite narrow. I was wondering just covering the circumference so it covers all of the branches?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Yes surround it with wire as high as a rabbit sitting up.

[@caleenalexanderson6209]

Great video and super informational. I'm wondering if this will also keep the squirrels from getting into the trees? I hang Irish Spring soap in old sox in my small orchard (5 trees) to keep the deer away (yes it works!) but squirrels are an issue for me. Last year I wrapped the base of my peach tree with tin foil and that helped. Wondering if this will do the trick?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

This won’t but if you can add a 3’ stovepipe on the trunk it will prevent them from climbing up, assuming they can’t jump down from neighbouring trees.

[@caleenalexanderson6209]

@@StefanSobkowiak Thanks!!!

[@anniecorbin7998]

The granddaughters and I planted 10 fruit trees in the spring of 2020. The deer killed all but 2. They have branched at the bottom and I hope they survive.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Not too late to wrap them and plan to fence the area next year.

[@VanillaAttila]

Have you looked into the lead contamination of the hot dipped hardware cloths? It can be released into the soil and taken up by the trees.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

I haven’t. If we worry about every possible contaminant we’ll remain paralyzed and never plant or tend anything.

[@VanillaAttila]

@@StefanSobkowiak Do you think its ok to do a single application of a targeted herbicide for quack grass below trees instead of installing plastic mulch(micro plastic contamination)?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

That’s your call I would not because of the way it precipitates vital minerals in the soil. A couple of layers of cardboard and some wood chip mulch will reduce quack, you may need to repeat a couple times.

[@VanillaAttila]

@@StefanSobkowiak Yes I've already done the cardboard and used compost because it's all I had, which became a haven for the quack. Now I don't have any room to pile any more on and its become a thick mat of quack grass. My only options are: 1. Plastic 2. Herbicide. 3. Manual removal but it's unfeasible.

[@sandyg3772]

I put this mesh at the bottom of each of my garden (raised) beds to keep the voles out of my veggies. I wish my wire cutters worked as smoothly as yours do. Maybe it's time to invest in some better tools.

[@amyblueskyirl16]

I have a problem with moles…how to prevent them from digging under and eating roots off my young trees and shrubs?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

If it’s moles they eat insects in the soil and especially worms. There are different species of voles, some of which dig and eat the bark of roots and roots. It’s not species we have. Someone else can help?

[@heherttu]

I use white pebbles around tree trunks (1 foot radius) to prevent vole damage. I have only about 10 trees to protect, though. Friend swears his ultrasonic repellent has kept critters out of his yard.

[@flyhigh5056]

maybe if you have a high fence for deer.

[@MrMockingbird1313]

Hey Stefan, an excellent video. But, what about deer pressure higher up your trees? Or maybe you don't have deer there? We have herds of them, down here. Also, huge flocks of turkeys. Do they affect orchards?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

We have deer outside the orchard. I’ve got a video coming up this spring about deer. Turkey’s can cause overdosing damage to a fruit tree if they adopt it as their roost. Too much of their nighttime deposits.

[@Bright_iiii_s]

It's a little bit off topic but do you ever worry about your trees root flair?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Life’s too short to waste energy on worries. Do your best and let the results be what they be.

[@emptynestgardens9057]

So I just planted my very first apple trees. They are 3-4 yrs old so not very thick. Does this mesh have to be touching the bark or can I come out about 6" away? Thank you.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

You can do both. However if far away and a vole gets inside the mesh it has a great roomy space to eat the trunk.

[@heherttu]

Could you unroll the mesh so that the sharp edge of the roll is facing down against the table while you cut instead of rubbing against your wrist? This is how I manage to cut large rolls for tree guards against deer without having it spring back on me, which would otherwise be pain in the butt to do.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Good idea

[@heherttu]

If you like using a cutting table then having the roll hang over the edge and a paperweight that can easily be moved around could help holding it down. Just a thought. Anyhow, please keep these videos coming. I find them inspirational and educational. Today I was planting more fruit trees in the backyard and felt pro(ud) from being armed with your shared knowledge about permaculture. I’m a long time follower and a huge fan.

[@MapEffects]

How do you deal with deer in your orchard? Not only for low hanging branches on your trees but also your bushes and understory plants that can’t get above deer browsing?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Add a great fence.

[@agrarianarc]

Can you put this around a very young newly planted tree with a tiny trunk?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Yes just give it room to grow.

[@Sansam717]

Don’t get it don’t voles stay underneath the soil ? And Damage roots . Would you not protect the roots

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Not much underground in Canada. It’s not the same species as in Europe.

[@tudorpottudorpot8423]

Is this ok for new trees? Should I make them loose?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Yes put it on but make it big enough for the full sized tree, just roll it up.

[@aloisiquirino7947]

Don't you have belowground, root-feeding voles like we have in Europe? Lucky pack :D Ours can eat the entire root system of a young tree in a few days-weeks and can kill even an 8 year old tree without problem, so until it's into its teens, you never know, will I loose this tree over night or will it make it? Only real solution I found so far has been your advice Stephan, if you can't beat'em, feed'em :D You basically plant as many shrubs, herbs, flowers, even trees around the tree as possible and hope that will confuse them and keep them fed and away from your precious tree roots. Still in test phase though

[@StefanSobkowiak]

We don’t have those. Just above ground ones, rabbits, hare.

[@aloisiquirino7947]

@@StefanSobkowiak too bad, they are amazing teachers ;)

[@nvb888]

Try to plant daffodils and siberian squill (Scilla siberica) around the trunk. Some other plants like mint, tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), lavander, catmint may also help.

[@MsCaterific]

❤

[@user-br8fj4ys4b]

👍👍👍

[@allouttabubblegum1984]

Wish I had done this in the beginning, I have a few girdled trees 😒

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Me too. But it’s done now and I’ve only lost 50 trees.

[@tophat2002]

What about deer???

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Check out my video from last spring: plant this first (about fencing)

[@tophat2002]

@@StefanSobkowiak I just did. A fencing of brush piles is interesting but idk about fedges . Looks to be too complicated and risky to plant and bend something to find it doesn't work when I could just pile brush. This is where a tractor or skid steer makes a world of difference again.

[@tophat2002]

@@StefanSobkowiak is it logical to create a huge bush pile surrounding my orchard of trios? Maybe that's the first thing I need to do.. use a chainsaw and skid steer. I want to convert a horse pasture to your kind of orchard. Then I'll use the white tree guards or fencing around individual seedlings, against rabbits

[@Nick-Freeman]

@@tophat2002 I used 7 foot fencing around each tree. I made a video if you want to see it.

[@luizmaranhao4824]

Will that stop ants?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

No, why would you want to stop ants, they are a beneficial insect in your fruit trees.

[@michelifig6356]

@@StefanSobkowiak really? How please?

[@Skashoon]

No fruit trees yet because my dogs ate the seedlings. Next spring I’ll try to get some. I wonder about using bone sauce as a repellent. It seems to repel rabbits. See Perma-Pastures Farm here on YT. He follows you and often refers people to you for fruit trees, pruning and so on. Here’s a link to his bone sauce video which definitely repels deer as well as some other pests of fruit trees and gardens. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5PGpJ-gdrSNb9U

[@StefanSobkowiak]

I never tried it, it originated with Sepp Holzer popularizing it. Many people swear by it.

[@skeletalbassman1028]

I have to protect mine from deer too. They'll take all the new growth off of the young trees if you let them here. I need a 5+ year tree just to survive on its own it seems.

[@francinedaime1784]

bonsoir, je suppose que c'est pour empêcher les rongeurs de venir manger l'écorce des arbres lapins, rats etc......

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Exactement

[@midwestribeye7820]

I love the smell of fungus!

[@kiwiwriter]

Zip tie will perish/become brittle and useless in 2-3 years in the sunlight.

[@bethl9825]

I am trying thin plastic coated wire instead of plastic zip ties. Have used them on plant tags with success.

[@DeadStump1]

Have you ever tried spraying your trees with diluted latex paint to protect them?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Yes I used to spend 4 days a year painting tree trunks. Works great to prevent sunscald but does nothing to reduce rabbit or vole damage.

[@elizabethcrowley3321]

Can’t possums climb this wire to get up the tree?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

No possums here.

[@lordcommandersnow1625]

rabbit ate my service berry, hopefully they survive.

[@StefanSobkowiak]

Service berry is a shrub and will regrow from the base.

[@lordcommandersnow1625]

@@StefanSobkowiak thanks Stef!

[@sladc4]

Can’t mice / rodents just climb up the wire mesh?

[@michaelgroves3460]

Any concern about lead in the mesh?

[@StefanSobkowiak]

I don’t worry about it.