The mindset of "tidy" needs to change. Rotational hedge maintenance on a 2 or 3 yearly basis would be far healthier option for hedges. It would save costs that could be diverted for hedge laying or planting up gaps and planting hedge trees.
And, where possible, increasing the height of cut, or 'incremental cutting', allowing hedgerows to sympathetically move through their hedgerow management scale until rejuvenating is needed through laying or coppicing in some form. This can really help, and further increases the number of flowers and berries! Nigel Adam's Hedgerow Management Cycle has been nicely visualised by PTES (https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/hedge-management-cycle). This incremental cutting may not be feasible in all locations e.g. where lines of sight need to be maintained along highways etc.
It will depend on the species. Location, weather and what the risks are from rabbits or deer. If you can see growth is being restricted, or the growth is growing into the plastic it's probably time to remove the guard carefully after 3 to 6 years, recycle as advised.
These shocking statistics are based on the 2007 and 1998 Countryside Surveys - 16 and 25 years old respectively. I think if more up to date surveys were referenced we see significantly more serious decline. A lot of countryside destruction has taken place in the past 2 decades.
Great information, but the message is still not reaching many councils and landowners who still spray and cut verges, hedges and trees regardless. Planted trees must be maintained to include removal of tree guards once growth is established.
Depends on growth and risk from. rabbits, deer, weather etc I would suggest if growth is pushing through the guard or if the guard has become brittle or already littering the ground, then it needs to be removed, and properly disposed. Many can be reused or recycled.
The mindset of "tidy" needs to change. Rotational hedge maintenance on a 2 or 3 yearly basis would be far healthier option for hedges. It would save costs that could be diverted for hedge laying or planting up gaps and planting hedge trees.
And, where possible, increasing the height of cut, or 'incremental cutting', allowing hedgerows to sympathetically move through their hedgerow management scale until rejuvenating is needed through laying or coppicing in some form. This can really help, and further increases the number of flowers and berries! Nigel Adam's Hedgerow Management Cycle has been nicely visualised by PTES (https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/hedge-management-cycle). This incremental cutting may not be feasible in all locations e.g. where lines of sight need to be maintained along highways etc.
Great ideas.
It will depend on the species. Location, weather and what the risks are from rabbits or deer. If you can see growth is being restricted, or the growth is growing into the plastic it's probably time to remove the guard carefully after 3 to 6 years, recycle as advised.
These shocking statistics are based on the 2007 and 1998 Countryside Surveys - 16 and 25 years old respectively. I think if more up to date surveys were referenced we see significantly more serious decline. A lot of countryside destruction has taken place in the past 2 decades.
Great information, but the message is still not reaching many councils and landowners who still spray and cut verges, hedges and trees regardless. Planted trees must be maintained to include removal of tree guards once growth is established.
After how long should a tree guard be removed?
Depends on growth and risk from. rabbits, deer, weather etc I would suggest if growth is pushing through the guard or if the guard has become brittle or already littering the ground, then it needs to be removed, and properly disposed. Many can be reused or recycled.
Thank-you Sue. Makes perfect sense really!