4 Reasons to Use Wire Mesh Tree Guards in Your Landscaping

Plants and animals have a close bond, relying on one another to not only survive but also thrive in the outdoor world. It's normal for birds, beavers, squirrels, chipmunks, and other rodents to feed on trees or use them as shelter. Deer are also known to scrape their antlers against tree trunks during rutting season.

While these behaviors are all a part of nature, they can be damaging to your landscaping. If you have large trees on your property and want to keep wildlife at bay, wire mesh tree guards are an excellent solution. 

1. Galvanized Wire Mesh Is Long-Lasting

Stainless steel wire mesh, particularly the galvanized variety, lasts for several years and often decades. The ultra-durable material is made by dipping metal hardware cloth into molten zinc, which causes a protective zinc-steel alloy to form.

It resists rust, corrosion, and year-round weather damage. Known for its resilience to the outdoor elements, galvanized hardware cloth is virtually maintenance free.

2. Wire Mesh Products Are Affordable

Compared to many other pest-control products and services, wire mesh is a budget-friendly solution. The prefabricated sheets are not only affordable, but since they last a long time, you'll save money both now and in the future.

3. Wire Mesh Is Eco-Friendly

Want to keep pests off your trees without harming any animals in the process? Many homeowners, gardeners, and landscapers like using wire mesh for tree guards. The environmentally friendly material doesn't have any damaging effects on soil, plants, or wildlife, doing its job without affecting ecological balance.

4. Wire Mesh Sheets Are Easy to Use

One of the main reasons people use wire mesh sheets for pest control and landscaping is that it's incredibly user-friendly. The material is easy to cut, often malleable, and doesn't require a lot of skill to fasten into tree guards.

How to Protect a Tree Trunk with Mesh Materials

Depending on the type of animals you're dealing with, you can use welded wire mesh, galvanized hardware cloth, or chicken wire to protect your trees. Find the general steps below.

1. Using wire cutters or heavy-duty shears, cut your wire mesh sheet to 30 to 40 inches wide, which will end up being the height of your tree guard. (You can also buy pre-cut sheets.)
2. Measure the circumference of the tree trunk and cut the wire mesh to about five inches shorter in length. (For instance, if the tree measures 50 inches around, you'd cut the sheet to 45 inches.) This will allow the material to go all the way around the trunk while still giving it space to grow.
3. Wrap the wire mesh around the base of the trunk, creating a cylinder shape.
4. Secure the material with wires or zip ties.

Be sure to check your tree guard two or three times a year to see whether the trunk is outgrowing your enclosure. If needed, create a new one, add additional wire mesh, or cut it down to allow more space.

Mesh Materials for Landscaping, Gardening, DIY Projects & More

TWP Inc. is proud to be one of the top wire mesh suppliers worldwide. Founded in Berkeley, California in 1969, our women-owned company has been serving gardeners, landscapers, and DIYers for over six decades.

We carry prefabricated stainless steel wire mesh panels, sheets, and rolls with a variety of weaves, opening sizes, and wire diameters. If you don't see exactly what you're looking for when you browse our inventory, we'd be happy to accommodate a custom order. Not only that, but we offer expert services, including measuring, cleaning, laser cutting, disc sizing, and slitting.

Want to have your landscaping and pest-control projects featured in our online gallery? Upload photos to Instagram using the hashtag #TWPWireMesh.