Planting without plastic

Many new non-plastic tree guards are available on the market, including ones made from waterproof cardboard and even sheep’s wool! Be mindful though when looking at tree guards that are classed as environmentally friendly as this could be ‘greenwashing’ (a term used for organisations to present themselves or their product as environmentally responsible, falsely suggesting an environmental benefit). There are also some bio-plastic options available that are still plastic, they are just made with a renewable bio-base such as vegetable fats and oils, but could still have an environmental impact on production and disposal. 

The best way to reduce plastic in tree planting? Go tree-guard free! We know this isn’t always an option, but for areas where there is little pressure from browsing animals like deer, rabbits and squirrels, this could be the alternative for you. Planting more trees in an area can mitigate the effects of browsing. In some cases, animal browsing can sometimes be beneficial for trees and vegetation, causing them to grow differently and increasing a site's biodiversity.

There are other ways to protect trees without using guards. You could use different materials to create similar guards against browsing animals by using brash from hedges or trees you have trimmed or coppiced. You could also use leftover vegetation to build mini dead hedges around individual trees, batches of trees or a planting site.

Use fence posts and wire mesh to protect tree-planting areas and deter browsing animals.