Possum/rat guards and management

Possum and rat damage in trees is more common than most people think, and often goes unnoticed. Both Possums and Rats tend to eat the new leaves as they grow, stunting limbs over time. Rats often chew the bark, killing the underling cambium layer. Where the problem is severe is can result in branch or stem dieback.

The management approach taken by Arbortech is a combination of clearance pruning to separate the crown from other points of access and polycarbonate trunk guarding. This can prevent the animals from accessing the tree. Not all access points can be blocked in some cases depending on circumstances, but by restricting access with can limit the extent of damage in most cases.