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Young tree trunk protection alternatives?

 
Posts: 147
Location: St. Louis, MO
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They sell plastic sleeves, or tubes that protect young tree trunks from mice or rabbits chewing them.  Does anybody have some alternatives maybe using recycled material?  I can't think of something that breathes but would protect from chewing.  2-liter soda bottle material would not allow breathing, wire mesh like chicken wire wouldn't keep mice out, old clothing could be chewed through.  Any ideas?
 
pollinator
Posts: 370
Location: South of Winona, Minnesota
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Aluminum window screen works for us.  We use a stapler to close the edges together when the piece is in place, wrapped around the trunk.  Easy to rip open if you need to get it off.  It helps if you start with a tall enough piece so that you don't have to worry about snow depth if that's a concern in your area.  BTW, we also use cheap white latex paint on the trunks of young fruit trees to protect from sun scald.  This combination works as well as the plastic tubes for us.
 
Gary Park
Posts: 147
Location: St. Louis, MO
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I like the window screen idea.  I'll have to do that this winter so the spring bunnies don't get ambitious with my 8 new fruit trees planted last year.  I happen to have a bunch of old screens laying around...who doesn't?!  :O)
 
                          
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placing potted rue around the tree or panty hose filled with blood meal works as well. Both stink to critters with noses more acute than ours and they stay away.
 
                                    
Posts: 147
Location: Anoka Sand Plain, MN Zone 4/5, Sunset Zone 43
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i did a search a while back after seeing a rec. for plantra tubes.  you can get tree tubes from here in small qtys:  http://www.treeprotectionsupply.com/tree%20tubes.htm
 
                                    
Posts: 147
Location: Anoka Sand Plain, MN Zone 4/5, Sunset Zone 43
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btw some tree tubes are designed to protect trees from pests, but they also help your your trees grow faster (which will protect them from pests!)
 
gardener
Posts: 965
Location: ZONE 5a Lindsay Ontario Canada
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Sepp Holzer's method of trunk protection...

https://permies.com/bb/index.php?topic=1805.0
 
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