AU2004100258A4

AU2004100258A4 - Improved tree guard

Info

Publication number: AU2004100258A4
Application number: AU2004100258A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andrew Walsh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-05
Filing date: 2004-04-05
Publication date: 2004-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-05

Description

Improved Tree Guard The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: Improved Tree Guard A number of native and introduced mammal species in Tasmania and Australia browse planted tree seedlings, resulting in significant productivity losses to the grower. Tree guards offer protection to vulnerable seedlings, however the costs of labour in terms of time need to construct and deploy guards, as well as the costs of guard materials, are often prohibitive and uneconomical. Further, browsing animals are capable of dismantling many tree guards, or tree guards adversely affect the growth rate of the seedling, or tree guards adversely affect tree form which downgrade the value of the tree crop from a potential sawlog crop to a less valuable pulp crop. Guards need to be one metre tall, thus such a surface area of guard material risks the guards being blown over in strong wind.

This invention has been devised in order to provide an improved tree guard that protects seedlings from browsing animals, decreases the negative affect on growth rate and form, reduces the risk of being blown over by wind, and simplifies deployment of tree guards such that the cost of labour is minimised.

The tree guard in accordance with this invention is one piece constructed from moulded plastic. As per Figure 1, it is a 100 cm long conical tube open at either end with a diameters 10 cm and 40 cm respectively, with 0.5 cm by 0.5 cm mesh up the side to allow sunlight and air to pass through. At either end of the tube (2 and 3) the rim is solid, rather than perforated, plastic to provide structural integrity.

Perforations are also not present along three vertical lines running the length of the tube separated from each other by 120 degrees from the central axis of the tube (Fig. These solid plastic limbs continue past the base of the tube and taper to barbed point thus providing the guard with stakes to hold it in the ground. Where the stakes meet the cylinder, solid lugs protrude outwards from the guard The guard is stackable with other such guards, thus a number can be carried to a planting area, and each one placed over a planted tree seedling with stakes pointing down, and pushed into ground until the larger open end of tube is flush with ground surface. Protruding lugs at base of guard allow for user to push guard into ground with foot. Guard is removed in opposite manner when seedling begins to grow out the top of the tube. Guard is manufactured from either UV-stabilised plastic, or biodegradable plastic in which case it may be left in-situ rather than collected and allowed to deteriorate.

Claims

1. A tree guard comprising one piece conical tube constructed from moulded plastic with mesh along it's sides.

2. A tree guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein solid plastic barbed stakes also comprise part of guard and extend from base of guard to provide ground support.

3. A tree guard as claimed in claim 1 and 2, wherein solid plastic lugs protrude from cylinder where stakes extend from said cylinder.

4. A tree guard substantially herein before described with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.