How can high-value trees be protected from vole feeding damage at the ground level?
Answer
Placing hardware cloth cylinders around the base of the plant
To protect vulnerable trees and shrubs, physical exclusion is the most effective strategy. Placing cylinders made of hardware cloth or similar protective material around the base of a plant creates a barrier that voles cannot penetrate. These cylinders should extend slightly above the soil surface and a few inches below it. This method directly blocks the vole's access to the root crown and lower bark, which are the primary areas they target for feeding, effectively neutralizing the risk regardless of the density of surrounding vegetation.
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