Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Preventing Varmints from Eating Trees

Thanks gehajake.

I was thinking about weld wire on the ground with one t-post. I like your idea much better! The weld wire "collar" is up in the air so I will seldom have to move it to work on the tree. It will also be much lighter to handle when I do have to move them. (Two t-posts is also better than the four required for a true fence.)

In hindsight, what do you think of the 40" diameter? (see discussion below)

In addition to the deer, I also have to fight a terrible wind problem once the trees get more than 18" above the top of the tube. (Central Kansas is very windy, and I have planted some of the trees out in the open at least a 1/4 mile from the nearest shelter belt.) I am hoping your "collar" idea will also work in a similar fashion to the high straps on 8' t-posts that I have installed to prevent wind damage. I just need to determine the optimum size of collar to prevent the wind from bending over the main leader while also minimizing damage to the bark due to the constant buffeting.

Finally, did any rodents smaller than rabbits get under your corrugated pipe sections? I pulled a tree tube on Saturday to weed and a vole hopped out and looked ready to fight me! I am sure her babies were nearby. I shooed her to the edge of the mulch and then saw that one of her burrows came up INSIDE of my tree tube. I have also had pocket gopher burrows come up inside the tubes. I think stinky sprays are probably my best defense against those rodents, unless anyone has any better ideas!