Protection to go around the base of Whips?

vicwatson

Planted whips and need something to protect them from the lawnmower, that yellow ducting would be way too big.

Is there something more flexible for this purpose to protect the base of my trees?

Where might I get it online or other, cheap please !!?

mountainy man

You could try rabbit spiral guards which come in 2-3 foot lengths, if only for lawnmower protection you could cut a three foot one into 3 or more.

paddy147

mountainy man wrote: »

You could try rabbit spiral guards which come in 2-3 foot lengths, if only for lawnmower protection you could cut a three foot one into 3 or more.

But then you are limiting and killing off any lower bud/shoot growth on the whips....that wouldnt be great if the whips are for hedging/screening purposes.

vicwatson

Cheers, whips aren't for hedging purposes, I'm growing them as trees, but it might be a cause for concern.

Anyone know the cheapest/best place to get these?

Any alternatives - I really just want to protect them from the mower, give them a fighting chance?

Thanks

paddy147

vicwatson wrote: »

Cheers, whips aren't for hedging purposes, I'm growing them as trees, but it might be a cause for concern.

Anyone know the cheapest/best place to get these?

Any alternatives - I really just want to protect them from the mower, give them a fighting chance?

Thanks

You will get them dirt cheap in a co-op/agri supply shop...around 1 euro or less.

vicwatson

I'll have a look in the local one and see how I get on.

Thanks for help

Sonnenblumen

vicwatson wrote: »

Cheers, whips aren't for hedging purposes, I'm growing them as trees, but it might be a cause for concern.

Anyone know the cheapest/best place to get these?

Any alternatives - I really just want to protect them from the mower, give them a fighting chance?

Thanks

You could use re-cycled cardboard rolls which you will get from print shops, kitchen towels etc They will eventually break up, but at zero cost no big deal to replace until the trees develop?

Young trees are more likely to suffer damage by close strimming.

A low cost durable option would be to cut and use 30mm waste pipe probably cost 10 c /150mm?

redser7

Handier again would be tightly rolled bunches of newspaper. It's incredibly resilient when you put enough layers together. Lash them on with cable ties.

prospect

We had quite rocky soil, and when the lawns were prepared we ended up with large amounts of rocks/stones.

I arranged these in circles around the base of the young whips (leaving a hole big enough for growth, to protect from my strimmer. Did a fine job for the first few years.

(Won't stop rabbits though!)

Oldtree

keep the mower away from the plants would be a good idea. :rolleyes:
The mad mower must get as close to trees as possible to give a neat finish but
even if you put guards on the mad mower will bang against the plants and damage them anyway.
Seperate the area of trees from the lawn and either let it grow wild or glyposate it (if you must).
the main issue with grass and whips is that in winter the long grass stalks can lean onto the whip and then if there is a snow fall the weight of the snow on the grass can snap the whip. Simply standing and flattening the grass down at the start of winter will protect the plants.
Spiral guards would only really be used for hares or rabbits.