I didn't protect mine when I planted them, but from what I am gathering here is you should put cages over the tops of the rhizomes so the leaves and steps can exit, but the turtles, muskrats, geese, and darned near everything else cannot enter and eat the heart of the plant.
Someone here can likely recommend the size fencing to use to protect the plants.
If I plant more, I will be doing this. Last summer my leaf stems were all eaten leaving the leaves and the rhizomes.
