Protecting a tree in field

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Afternoon,

Last winter some of my ponies viciously beavered two trees in their field. Both trees are ash trees. One is in a place that I'll be able to electric fence around it as part of field division, but the other is in the middle of field so less easy to electric off. I can just put a square of electric round it but looking for something a little more robust.

Are there such things as plastic tree guards for large trees? I looked at metal park style tree protectors at Burghley and they were v expensive, as were little metal square fences to go round too. Would sheep hurdles work? What have other people used?

Picture of one of the trees in question, please admire the tooth work on the trunk

 

[Orangehorse]

Trouble is that horses have very long necks and can reach a long way. You could get a local fencing contractor to put a railed square round the tree. There were some locally and I thought that they were too low to protect the tree but in fact they have worked well and the trees haven't been chewed.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

If possible I'd like something that can be taken down in the summer so they can lurk under tree and itch on it. Am also concerned re the roots if I were to put a permanent fence up but it's an option

 

[Polos Mum]

Would harris fencing work? the tall stuff with feet that usually go around building sites?
It probably depends on how destructive your horses are

I've had to post and rail 2 meters out from all mine as they ring barked the trees and are killing them !!

 

[stangs]

Don’t know how much help this is, but this is how London Zoo has zebra-proofed their trees - can’t imagine it’s too permanent/expensive.

https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/tree-guards-in-zebra-paddock.741777/

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Would harris fencing work? the tall stuff with feet that usually go around building sites?
It probably depends on how destructive your horses are

I've had to post and rail 2 meters out from all mine as they ring barked the trees and are killing them !!

Possibly if I could get my mits on some. Was thinking sheep or cattle hurdles might be easier to get second hand

 

[Polos Mum]

We built our chicken run out if it - plenty on facebook.
Lots more building sites around us than livestock farmers who want to sell anything in working order !

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Don’t know how much help this is, but this is how London Zoo has zebra-proofed their trees - can’t imagine it’s too permanent/expensive.

https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/tree-guards-in-zebra-paddock.741777/

I can't quite work out what's going on there they look like they have little anti-crib wooden rack things on the trees

 

[quizzie]

Chestnut Paling (9200mm x 900mm) - 2 Wire

Chestnut Paling (9200mm x 900mm) - 2 Wire

www.avsfencing.co.uk

The zebra fencing might be something like this?!

 

[julesjoy]

A tree in my paddock had been securely wrapped in chicken wire to prevent the ponies damaging it.

 

[Poingsettia]

I’ve seen tree trunks wrapped in thick shade cloth / weed fabric.

 

[rabatsa]

My lot ring barked a 100+ year oak tree in two days. I have not found anything that protects the tree and lets the ground around it be kept in decent order. Fortunately the sheep are not as destructive.

 

[Burnerbee]

Ash trees - the vast majority at least - are being wiped out in the UK by a disease. Here in Hampshire and surrounding counties 90%+ are dead or dying….so save your money, cos unfortunately it probably won’t be around for mich longer anyway

Ash Dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) - Woodland Trust

Ash dieback, also known as Chalara dieback of ash, is a serious disease that is killing ash across Europe. Find out what causes it and how to spot it.

www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

 

[ihatework]

A tree in my paddock had been securely wrapped in chicken wire to prevent the ponies damaging it.

I was just about to suggest that!

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Ash trees - the vast majority at least - are being wiped out in the UK by a disease. Here in Hampshire and surrounding counties 90%+ are dead or dying….so save your money, cos unfortunately it probably won’t be around for mich longer anyway

Ash Dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) - Woodland Trust

Ash dieback, also known as Chalara dieback of ash, is a serious disease that is killing ash across Europe. Find out what causes it and how to spot it.

www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

That may be but it's still alive at present with no sign of disease and would like to keep it so as long as possible

 

[JackFrost]

Possibly if I could get my mits on some. Was thinking sheep or cattle hurdles might be easier to get second hand

Don't use these. They tend to rub on them and can get tangled up in them.

 

[Merry neddy man]

Second hand Heras fencing can be found at £8 a panel on e-bay plus cost of feet about £10 each (or just ram it into the ground), clips £1.50 each or use tie wraps. 3 panels in a triangle will be fine.9'9"---3 metres long x 6' 6"-- 2 metre high gives good protection to the trees.

 

[Goldenstar]

Electric fence with a solar unit will sort the one in the middle of the field .You will need to use for wooden posts I would use round one they are easier to put in and move .

 

[Burnerbee]

That may be but it's still alive at present with no sign of disease and would like to keep it so as long as possible

Sorry to say but, based on the lower branches visible in the pic, it’s got the lurgy…. There are literally thousands of dying ash round here, you get to know the look. Post another pic?

 

[Skib]

Some trees in Richmond Pasrk are are surrounded by wooden fences - or pailing. Fences more to keep picnickers from sitting under or walkers passing under branches at risk of falling. Some time ago a boy was killed by a falling branch, so they do fence trees now. Deer can leap over the fences, but mostly choose not to.

Edited to correct as pics show trees with pailing round them

 

[Abacus]

Sorry to say but, based on the lower branches visible in the pic, it’s got the lurgy…. There are literally thousands of dying ash round here, you get to know the look. Post another pic?

I also thought that it looked like it has dieback based on those bare dead branches. I just had a tree at the bottom of my garden checked, and it needs removing - sooner rather than later as after a certain stage it's unsafe to climb and take down limb by limb, and where it is, it can't be felled...

If you could have it cut above horse height they can continue using it as a scratching post. He looks very happy.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

It doesn't have any bare branches, and the damage you can see is from the ponies teeth, they almost completely ring barked it, there is just a small amount of bark remaining at the point where it splits into two. I did think it was a goner but it's rallied somewhat over the summer.

Slightly better picture. It has sparse leaves due to said beavering. The other one further down the field is similar, and the many other ash trees around the property are currently looking resplendent.

 

[Burnerbee]

It doesn't have any bare branches, and the damage you can see is from the ponies teeth, they almost completely ring barked it, there is just a small amount of bark remaining at the point where it splits into two. I did think it was a goner but it's rallied somewhat over the summer.

Slightly better picture. It has sparse leaves due to said beavering. The other one further down the field is similar, and the many other ash trees around the property are currently looking resplendent.

View attachment 147115

It’s not the teeth marks - it’s the withered, sparse leaves and overall sad look that give it away. Not all ash trees get it at the same time, but, very sadly and I and I’m sure everyone else feels the same sadness about this - the vast majority will die.

 

[PurBee]

If they’ve almost ringed it, apart from a small section, the tree only has that small remaining bark section to transport nutrients. Trees do have amazing methods to overcome herbivory, and like our ash that the horses has nibbled on - it’s grown a much thicker bark edge to where its been de-barked, many years later, and that ash is doing well. But my horses could only access one side of the trunk.

The zoo method of wrapping safe wood ‘sticks’ to the trunk is an excellent idea. The horses can still scratch on it safely.

I tried netting on a large tree - horses put a hoof through within hours, tearing it.
I didnt want to use metal mesh of any kind to avoid potential injury while scratching, particularly head/eyes.

If you choose to properly fence it, that likely would work best - dont worry about the tree roots, it has plenty to use when other become damaged.
As they use yours as a scratching post, you might want to consider installing a sturdy scratching post while you’re doing fencing. From the looks of the lovely pics of them, they obviously love using the tree for scratching so would benefit from a sturdy post installed replacing the ash.

I have plenty of sacrificial trees for my horses, but the loveliest and rarest species i try to protect fencing it off from them.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

I do like the idea of the chestnut paling, but as the trunk splits in two it might be hard to do. They like that tree best for itching as it's closest to my shetlands and the house, but they have two other trees (well sort of, they are hawthorns that have evolved into bushy trees) and two field shelters to itch on so protecting the tree for as long as possible tops their winter itching/munching plans. If the arrangement I choose is not permanent I'll let them have it back for next summer

 

[Clodagh]

4 pallets tied together and crib box if needed? (Check if crib box bad for trees first). Or wrap in chicken wire which you can remove in the spring, as well as pallets.

 

[PurBee]

I do like the idea of the chestnut paling, but as the trunk splits in two it might be hard to do. They like that tree best for itching as it's closest to my shetlands and the house, but they have two other trees (well sort of, they are hawthorns that have evolved into bushy trees) and two field shelters to itch on so protecting the tree for as long as possible tops their winter itching/munching plans. If the arrangement I choose is not permanent I'll let them have it back for next summer

If you do wrap it, i’d treat the split trunk as one trunk and wrap around the entire width, rather than wrap the split trunks individually.
It sounds like they have plenty else to scratch on, so theyll just have to do without the ash! Actually mine love ash so much theyd munch it any time of year.