Tree Protectors plus

For the extra protection this is what you need.  Or maybe you could get away with this.  Sorry, here's the best--$45. 

Think Like a Beast Products has always been about the ability to grow a tree.  In Colorado and other states the state is required to provide "appropriate and sufficient protection" against damage from deer, elk, and other animals.

They don't do it.  Part of the reason is that it is a real challenge.  And there are other priorities.

Tree Cages really work.  It is open source.  You can do it yourself.

The home stretch

I am not embarrassed to say that it is smoke and mirrors.  Or, rather, cables.

Have you ever had one of those plants that, no matter how you spin it or prop it up, it still falls down?

The tree on the left still cannot stand-up on its own.  Sometimes it does, but if the three cords are removed it is likely to fall all the way to the ground.

Rule #1 Laziness

Small things can have a huge impact and it is best to take care of them.  Otherwise, years of growth, training, and expectations may be lost.

The leaves are busting and sometimes the tiny branches cannot handle the weight.  One tug on anything reachable can bring the whole tree down.

Almost Spring

And now, today, close to a year later.  So you want to live in Colorado?

May 16 and still no leaves.  But they are close.

The astute observer will see that they are tied together.  I use this old dog fence wire I dug up in my yard--it is plastic with a metal core and you can use it both as cord and a twist tie.

The tree on the left, the most recent to be liberated from a tree cage, is still a little bit wobbly.  The rubber pencil thing.  Jimmy legs.  Without the support from the more-upright, stronger tree on the right, it will lean.  Depending on the wind it may lean a lot.  I believe it always helps to "harden" plants and aspen have to endure a lot in the way of wind.  But even fast-growing trees have limits.  They cannot change from rubbery to woody overnight or perhaps even within a few years.  This is an accelerated upward process.

And, now they that they are going to explode with leaves--it happens within a few days--they are going to become heavier on top.  As fast as they will grow they will not harden that fast.  Uncontrolled, I believe, the leaning will become worse.

They are extremely healthy and will grow quickly now but they are not safe yet.  One branch within reach and the whole tree can be pulled down and destroyed.

$30 for a 150 foot roll of chicken wire. 

You can do it yourself and it is very simple if you buy this.  Just cut it to the appropriate length and crimp/bend over the edges for strength and safety.  If you have more than one or two, or if you have  done it before, you should buy a whole roll.

For aspen in particular the diameter is fairly consistent--it doesn't have to be much larger at the bottom--and this works great.

The Think Like A Beast Tree Protector is an open source product.

For larger trees 2" chicken wire/poultry netting works perfectly.  It is light and inexpensive.