Spiral Tree Guards are used extensively across the Northern Hemisphere for protecting young trees such as Standards, Seedlings Transplants and Single Stem Hedge Plant Varieties against browsing animals such as rabbit, hare, sheep and roe deer. They offer a very low unit cost but also are very quick and simple to install and often do not need additional tree stakes or fastenings to support them. This makes them the most costefficient way of protecting young trees from Chemical or Rabbit's compared to other techniques such as Tree Shelters or Fencing. An additional major advantage of using Spiral Guards is their ability to grow with trees as they mature without the risk of strangulation or having to remove them from trees.
The key advantages of Spiral Guards include:-
- Very simple and quick installation
- No fixing stakes or fastenings required on most trees
- Lowest unit cost system and low maintenance
- Doesn't need revisiting to remove from mature trees in most situations
- Can promote thickening for hedging applications
- Does offer some benefits to aid growth in young trees
- Main tree protection since 1970's
Rainbow developed the Original Spiral Guards and have kept improving the concept ever since. The well formed overlap in a Rainbow Spiral is important to prevent animals being attracted to gaps in the tree protector and more importantly for protection against chemicals. It is also most important to install Spiral Tree Guards the correct way up to remove the risk of tree strangulation. This can easily be seen on Rainbow Tree Spirals as the ventilation holes form a pattern of an arrow pointing upwards with the overlaps pointing upwards also.
All our Spiral Tree Guars are manufactured in 100% recycled PVC which offers many advantages over alternative plastics. PVC is a long lasting outdoor plastic so offers at least 4 growing seasons of protection even at high UV exposure levels. This material also will not become weaker at higher temperatures which causes some spirals to collapse around young trees in summer. PVC ultimately breaks down into minute inert particles through photo degradation which will not harm the earth around the tree plantation. Recent research has concluded that PVC is one of the better materials for the Environment at all 5 levels of its LCA Scale. This is particularly true now modern PVC's have D.I.N. Phthalate based stabilisers which do break down and do not bio accumulate.
Spiral tree guards have been used as the preferred method for hedge planting for many years now and we have developedV a great deal of experience in this area. They offer the easiest, quickest and cheapest way of installing hedgerows and produce effective hedges with plenty of side and low growth. Initially the young hedge does not produce good side growth but as the young hedge grows above the spiral guard and thickens out blocking light to the lower parts the hedge is forced downward which helps to thicken it and promote low growth. This becomes more evident when the Spiral Guard breaks down to allow more.
LENGTH
60cm Rabbit
75cm Hare
120cm Sheep/ Roe Deer on larger trees
Plus possible snow depth in winter
WITH OR WITHOUT VENTILATION HOLES
Our experience shows that young trees develop better and more reliably with Ventilation Holes. This reduces the effects of mildew and leaf burn, both of which stunt young tree growth. However if the planting area is going to be regularly sprayed with any chemical weed killer the no holes option should be used. We therefore prefer to recommend the use of a suppressant Weed Mat to reduce the use of Chemicals and possibility of disease.
DIAMETER
38MM For Whips and Hedgerow Planting
50MM For Standard and Single Stem Trees and for Improved Growth rates
65MM For Low Cost Tree Shelter Applications such as Broad Leaves and some Conifers.
COLOUR
An aesthetic appearance - Grey, White, Brown
Enhance Growth - Clear or Green Tint
High UV exposure - White or Grey
Recover Young Trees with damaged lead shoot - Clear or Green Tint
