Tree guards for apple trees

Apple tree girdling

Tree damage from mice:  When I pruned my apple tree I discovered the tree bark at the ground level was eaten by mice over the winter. Over 75% of the bark has been eaten which means the tree won't survive. 
This is called "girdling or ring-barking" and happens when mice or voles chew the bark under the snow. They are drawn to the sugary tasting bark that the tree delivers to the roots of the tree. Ironically the tree guard was in place but was not firmly pushed into the soil. This illustrates the importance of installing a good tree guard when you plant your tree.

You can buy a variety of tree guards on the market and the best one is unconventional. Firstly, the most popular is the expandible 36" white spiral PVC type with holes. They are relatively inexpensive and really easy to install.  Just make sure they are buried under the soil before winter strikes. My favourite is the PVC drainage field tile pipe with holes adapted to serve as a tree guard. Available at The Home Depot, it can be cut to any length and then cut along the length to allow for installation. Many apple tree farmers have adapted the drainage pipe for tree protection. White is the colour of choice to reflect the hot sun but black seems to work fine. The biggest challenge is getting them on without damaging the young tree bark. Firstly, attach the white spiral type to protect the tree bark and then install the drainage pipe over the spiral. Once installed, remove the white spiral. If you are planting a small orchard of trees you may want to invest in a Leonard Tree Guard Zipper that speeds up the install process.  A very cool tool! Protect your investment, my friend.