Why Tree Guards Matter

The best time to install a tree guard is when you plant a tree seedling. A tree guard protects the young tree as it starts to develop into a healthy adult trees.

Here are four hazards that tree guards protect your young trees from:

Pests

Animals such as kangaroos, wallabies, hares and rabbits can damage the young tree’s tender stem. A young tree can be weak or have a tendency to break if bumped into by animals or bitten. Adult trees, on the other hand, should have their trunks covered by tree guards to keep dogs from urinating on them. Dog urination can damage a tree and cause the bark to peel or become bleached.

Garden equipment

Garden tools like lawn mowers, brush cutters and weed whackers can hurt or even kill tree seedlings. Though many tree guards are made from plastic materials and milk cartons, there are metal guards that can withstand the damage from careless handling of garden equipment.

Herbicide drift

Herbicides are intended to kill weeds though they can damage plants as well. Some types destroy any vegetation it touches and that includes trees. Herbicide drift is caused by several factors, one of which is when sprayed on a windy day. Symptoms of trees affected by herbicide drift include stunted growth, curling leaves or a declining state.

Weather

Tree guards not only protect plants from physical damages but also from extreme temperatures that can cause the tree seedling to die. Paper wrap tree guards protect the trunk and the roots from cold weather. Tree guards made of materials similar to those of nets on shade houses protect the young trees from too much heat.

There are more buildings constructed than there are trees planted that reach maturity. People should know that planting tree seedlings is just the beginning of the journey to a greener Earth. The challenge is in prolonging their lifespan.