Our Tree Guard & Protection Products

Tree guards enhance tree growth and provide protection, increasing the survival rate of young trees. - Protection from browsing animals - Increased tree survival rates - Protection from the elements and harsh weather conditions - Provides a microclimate that is ideal for tree growth (optimal temperature, carbon dioxide levels, moisture, light spectrum, and light intensity)

Tree guards are essential for optimum tree growth. However, traditional tree guards are made from polypropylene which pollutes our forests with plastic waste and they require collection at their end of life. Soil biodegradable tree guards are the future of sustainable forestry as they biodegrade onsite, leaving behind only water, minerals, and biomass.

It is no longer environmentally and socially acceptable for conventional tree guards to be left in the environment after use as they will fragment and end up as long-lived “microplastics” in the soil. The collection of tree guards after use is both difficult and expensive. We believe the way forward for Vigilis Tree Shelters and the forestry industry is to provide a tree shelter that can be left on site after use and then biodegrade in a timely and benign manner.

They are both manufactured from UV-stabilised & photodegradable polypropylene with a twin-wall construction. They have flared rims and laser lines and come with releasable cable ties. Vented tree guards have the addition of perforated holes on the top two-thirds of the tube. The ventilated top half acclimatises the tree to potential harsh winds and environmental conditions. This aids trunk and root development, making vented tree shelters ideal for windy and exposed areas.

Vigilis-Bio biodegradable tree shelters are innovative and plastic-free tree guards. They are made from a special blend of bio-based derivatives (potatoes, wood and corn) and a custom biodegradable polymer.

They perform on par with traditional tree guards, providing 5 years of growing protection followed by 6-12 months of disintegration. Following this, the tree guard will biodegrade in the soil over a period of 2 years. After biodegradation, all that remains is water, minerals, and biomass which provide a food source for soil microbes.

For now, yes. Whilst we build the body of field-trial evidence that allows Vigilis Bio to be used with confidence on all sites and in all applications, we will continue to sell the conventional product. However, in time we believe the market will embrace Vigilis Bio entirely. There will only be a few applications (such as viticulture) where a conventional tree shelter (used multiple times) will be required.

On some sites, dispensing with tree shelters can result in the loss of 80% to 90% of saplings - this is expensive and inefficient. Fencing can be useful but it is costly and compromises the free movement of animals - and consequent biodiversity - which is vital to landowners and other stakeholders.