Cost Saving Tips

collguy82 · 21st February 2008, 12:33 PM

Hello! New Guy here. For the past couple of years I've been wanting to start a wildlife habitat project on my land, and plant several hundred trees of various sorts. I would like to use protective supplies like tree mats & tube protectors, to protect against the existing wildlife & weed competition. But it seems like the costs for those items are twice as much as the tree's themselves.

So my question is, is there alternatives for a low cost option for tree mats? I have large rolls of non-permeable plastic tarp.... would this stuff work for the 1st season?

If anyone has any other cost saving tips in regards to supplies, i'd love to hear them.

Thanks!

ronnyb · 24th February 2008, 02:46 PM

How about a thick layer of wood chips. They will last for a couple of years and give your trees a head start over the weeds and grasses. Most tree companies will dump them for free or a relatively low price. For truck protectors, you can get a big reel 100' of 6 inch plastic drain tile, cut it into 2 foot lengths and slit it up the side to put around the tree. Cheap protection against rabbit and vole damage. If you get more snow, make them longer.

jim1nz · 24th February 2008, 04:00 PM

Yea mulch is the way to go i reckon.

I have seen and heard of all sorts of things used but it seems that at the end of the day they are more trouble with litter and maintenance let alone the expence, than they are worth.

TreeDimensional · 24th February 2008, 05:02 PM

We use plastic mutch to keep the weeds down and the water in. As far as keeping the furry woodland creatures away, shredded Irish spring soap works as well as anything.

21st February 2008, 12:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
collguy82 I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 1	Cost Saving Tips Hello! New Guy here. For the past couple of years I've been wanting to start a wildlife habitat project on my land, and plant several hundred trees of various sorts. I would like to use protective supplies like tree mats & tube protectors, to protect against the existing wildlife & weed competition. But it seems like the costs for those items are twice as much as the tree's themselves. So my question is, is there alternatives for a low cost option for tree mats? I have large rolls of non-permeable plastic tarp.... would this stuff work for the 1st season? If anyone has any other cost saving tips in regards to supplies, i'd love to hear them. Thanks!

24th February 2008, 02:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
ronnyb Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 64	Re: Cost Saving Tips How about a thick layer of wood chips. They will last for a couple of years and give your trees a head start over the weeds and grasses. Most tree companies will dump them for free or a relatively low price. For truck protectors, you can get a big reel 100' of 6 inch plastic drain tile, cut it into 2 foot lengths and slit it up the side to put around the tree. Cheap protection against rabbit and vole damage. If you get more snow, make them longer.

24th February 2008, 04:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
jim1nz Mature tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tauranga, New Zealand Posts: 296	Re: Cost Saving Tips Yea mulch is the way to go i reckon. I have seen and heard of all sorts of things used but it seems that at the end of the day they are more trouble with litter and maintenance let alone the expence, than they are worth. __________________ SPEED ALWAYS FOLLOWS TECHNIQUE

24th February 2008, 05:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
TreeDimensional Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 385	Re: Cost Saving Tips We use plastic mutch to keep the weeds down and the water in. As far as keeping the furry woodland creatures away, shredded Irish spring soap works as well as anything.

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