Improved growth rates and protection

Animals such as rabbits, hares, and deer, pose a significant threat to newly planted hedgerows.

Young hedge plants sourced from nurseries are typically fertilised and nutrient-rich, making their main shoots and terminal buds especially attractive to grazing animals.

While fencing can protect specific areas, it often leads to increased animal density and browsing pressure in surrounding, non-fenced zones.

Newly planted hedge saplings can struggle when exposed to climatic extremes – sometimes leading to losses.

In open or exposed sites in particular, fluctuations in temperature and humidity can stress young plants, slowing their development and leaving them vulnerable to pests, disease, and competition. Without a stable, supportive microclimate, early growth is often uneven and delayed — compromising the hedge’s ability to form a dense, healthy structure in its formative years.

Hedgerows are vital ecological corridors and support a wide range of species by providing food, shelter, and safe passage through the landscape. However, young plants are especially vulnerable to browsing by rabbits, deer, and other herbivores, which can damage or kill saplings before they mature. Tubex tree shelters offer essential protection during this critical stage, shielding plants from browsing pressure and environmental stress.

By creating a protected zone around each sapling, Tubex shelters reduce the encroachment of competing vegetation, helping young hedge plants access the light, water, and nutrients they need to thrive while also reducing the reliance on herbicides and manual weeding. At the same time, the physical support provided by the shelter encourages upright, uniform growth, protecting plants from wind distortion and uneven development. This results in stronger, more resilient hedgerows that are easier to manage and better equipped to deliver long-term environmental and agricultural benefits.