Protecting Sapling Roots

[kaekle]

Has anyone had success creating a protective tree ring out of chicken wire? We had to stop free ranging our pullets this summer because they dug around and exposed the roots of most of the fruit trees in our young orchard, and killed at least one of them in the process. Would a homemade chicken wire ring do enough to protect the roots?

 

[DobieLover]

Would a homemade chicken wire ring do enough to protect the roots?

If you lay it down over the root zone and pin it with landscape staples that will prevent them scratching the roots.

 

[kaekle]

If you lay it down over the root zone and pin it with landscape staples that will prevent them scratching the roots.

Landscape staples, of course! Thank you!

 

[perkolator]

Many people make fencing cages around young trees, mainly for something like a deer grazing or a rabbit/vole bark damage in winter; they also work for keeping chickens away from the rootball. I plant all over my property and have to cage around basically everything or the chickens will reverse my work very quickly, just a reality of having chickens and wanting to garden.