When planting hedges or other areas with little rooted cuttings is it better
to stake and enclose in spiral guards or just leave them to grow naturally?
Do the plastic guards retard their growth?

Ann

In article ,
says...

When planting hedges or other areas with little rooted cuttings is it better
to stake and enclose in spiral guards or just leave them to grow naturally?

first work out why it's sometimes done.

Do the plastic guards retard their growth?

No. But they not always unnecessary.

The only point of spiral guards is (in wildlife habitats) to protect
saplings from rabbits, hares and voles grawing bark/nipping off leader
shoots of specimen trees. In many urban gardens those won't be a
significant threat so no need for protectors.

The main requirement is to keep the plant stem and root area clear of
any competition from weeds for at least a couple of years while it gets
established. Either by weeding, mulchmats, or chemicals.

Janet

On 26/07/2010 09:54, Ann Lancing wrote:

When planting hedges or other areas with little rooted cuttings is it
better to stake and enclose in spiral guards or just leave them to grow
naturally? Do the plastic guards retard their growth?

Ann


The spiral guards are more to keep the bunnies off than anything else
tho I suppose they might increase the temperature/ humidity around the
plant and produce a slightly better microclimate for initial growth. In
a garden situation I doubt I would bother, but if you think the wabbits
might be a problem then it's worth a try............. (though at the
nursery where I worked they only made minimal difference - the rabbits
there could chew through anything!)
Jill