Installation: 4 easy steps
Step 1
Bend the sheet into a cylindrical shape and secure with a few metal ties.
Step 2
Position the Cactus Tree Guard around the tree or shrub.
Step 3
Install 2 or 3 supports (see more information below):
Option 1: 3 steel rods or “re-bars”
Option 2: 2 timber posts can also be used
Step 4
Attach the Cactus Tree Guard to the supporting posts. This is a simple and fast process when using the wire ties supplied and the “Easytied” tying drill-bit tool. We supply the metal ties you will need and the Easytied tool, but not the drill!
More information about supporting the Cactus Tree Guards
Install 2 or 3 supports:
Option 1: 3 steel rods or concrete reinforcing bars “re-bars” 1.5m or 2m high and 10mm diameter should be knocked in with the rod-hammer tool. The guards may be fixed on the inside or the outside of the re-bars. Fixing rebars on the outside of the guard has the advantage of making routine maintenance easier. If the rebars are loose and need hammering back in you can do this without taking the guard off, just cut the ties on that rebar and hit the rebar in again with the driver, using the ledge on the driver to avoid hitting down on the spikes. Alternatively, fixing rebar on the inside seems more secure because if the ties were to snap the guard would probably be held on the rebars.
Option 2: 1 or 2 x 7’6”, 2-3” diameter timber posts can also be used. If timber posts are used the guards must be stapled to the posts which are positioned inside the guard. This is not our preferred method as wooden posts are more likely to break when cattle are pushed against them. Cattle will not choose to push them, but if spooked the herd will drive into them. Re-bars are more flexible and if pushed they will bend and not break or come out of the ground. If the tree is not snapped they will bend back up again.
Evidence suggests (in excess of 30,000 TE8 guards installed and claimed for) that if trying to meet the specification required under TE8 (weld mesh tree guard) of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (England) you can do this by using 2 Cactus tree guards rolled in the short axis on top of each other or two Cactus tree guards rolled to form two halves of a cylinder. This configuration will give you the 50cm diameter and either 2m height or 1.6m height respectively, as required by the scheme. They can be supported with rebars or timber posts as described, the scheme refers to "stakes". As always with this scheme, it is up to the agreement holder to satisfy themselves that the specification they use is eligible. This option was written before Cactus guards existed and so we believe using them is a significant upgrade on weldmesh wrapped with barbed-wire. We know from experience that thick coated cattle love to rub on barbed wire! This is why the inventors came up with Cactus guards.
Installation leaflet
Guidance for installation and maintenance of Cactus Tree Guards