What Does It Mean If You See A Neighbor's Tree Wrapped In Metal?

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

When out walking, it can be fun to admire the landscaping and gardens of your neighbors. Amidst all the beautiful plants and manicured lawns you may notice an oddity, however: a tree wrapped in metal. There are a few possibilities on why your neighbor may have done this, depending on what the metallic structure wrapped around the tree looks like. The most likely possibilities, however, are that you are looking at a rodent baffle or perhaps a protective measure to protect the tree from deer or lawn equipment damage. 

While these common issues are among a variety of good reasons to wrap a tree's trunk or a branch in metal, it does require some caution. If a wrap is very tight, it can kill a tree. This is because as the tree grows, the band could begin to cause damage to the bark and the tissue underneath, preventing the tree from transporting nutrients effectively. Luckily, as long as the metal is not wrapped too tightly and is checked often, this shouldn't be a problem.

If you've ever had to deal with squirrels in your bird feeder, you may be familiar with squirrel baffles. These barriers can make it more difficult for squirrels to climb up to reach any birdseed you've put out so that they won't disturb your feathered friends. While some baffles are bell-shaped and difficult to climb around, others are simply made of slippery metal that is difficult for the animals to grip onto. But baffles aren't limited to bird feeders. You can also use a squirrel baffle on trees, which may explain the metal on your neighbors' landscaping.

The slick metal of the baffle can not only prevent squirrels from accessing the tree, but also rats and other pests which may cause damage or eat any fruits before you can harvest them. Additionally, these baffles also make it more difficult for pests to use trees as a route to gain access to people's roofs or attics, where they could potentially cause substantial damage. 

Squirrel baffles aren't the only type of metal protection you may see on trees. Metal wraps can also protect trees from damage caused by beavers and woodchucks and even deer who may try to rub or gnaw on the wood. These wraps are often a wire mesh instead of a single sheet of metal. While you can certainly buy chicken wire and make your own wrap to protect your trees, many companies make ready to use products for this purpose. Consider something like these Yowlieu mesh tree trunk protectors, which can work well to protect tree trunks from hungry or curious critters.

However, wire mesh tree wraps aren't just useful for protecting a tree from animal damage. They can also protect it from the accidental damage that can be caused by yard tools like weed whackers and lawn mowers if someone incorrectly trims the grass around the tree. If used correctly, these metal features around trees can be a big benefit.