When I set out to plant trees this way I didn’t have voles in mind. I did it to try and keep things tidy under the tree. Sadly, grass overtook it and you can’t even see any rocks now. Under the rocks is a fabric weed guard.
I stopped that technique years ago and just plant trees natural along with the deer protector fence until trees are somewhat deer proof. This type of deer guard is outstanding.
Recently I found out the rocks were beneficial even though they failed at weed and grass abatement. The rocks and garden fabric keep voles from digging under the tree. Last year I planted an apple and noticed 5 voles shot out from a hole under the tree when I watered it. The voles had dug in a few inches from the trunk. I never had vole issue with my trees when rocks were under them.
The rocks and fabric does not affect tree growth from what I can tell. Have many trees 25’ - 30’ tall with rocks and fabric. I’m not going back to planting trees with rocks under them, I’m just bringing it to your attention if you have a need for this technique.
Thanks for sharing. How deep is the weedguard and rock barrier? Is it right at the bottom of the hole? What about the sides, can’t gophers get in from the sides? I have used gopher baskets but I’m concerned the wire is too well galvanized and tree will be root bound apart from small roots that can escape the 1/4 inch holes.
I like your cage being off the ground. Whenever I use a cage it ends up being a trellis for bindweed, but this is a good solution.
I wonder what the max height you could get way with off the ground? Do you think that cage could be 2 feet off the ground and the deer wouldn’t try to crawl under because it’s such a small enclosure?
Same question here ( though I’ve used chivken wire baskets linig the planting hole - with mixed results). Our voles have no issue with diging a long tunel and prospecting for crunchy roots under ground for meters and meters.
Kudos to you… but i have over 100 trees now and around 400 berry plants not to mention everything else… all are under attack by voles. My dogs are doing a decent job but im giving it time to let the snakes build up and the birds of prey… in my crazy thinking the voles will be magnets for predators…so im giving it time. Im thinking that the more voles that the snakes eat…the more babies that they will have and so on and so forth with birds of prey also. That theory is working with aphids… the more aphids i get the more ladybugs and wasps that come to eat them.
I hate voles…and i love snakes. Garter snakes do a very good job…well they all do…if you let them.
Like you, I put landscape fabric down after removing the sod. Made three trips to the hills to a nice talus slope that came right down to the road, and brought home about 70 gallons of rock. I think I’ll add a barrier between the rock and the grass to try to slow it down. Seven feet in diameter.
Well , from my observation , voles love to tunnel under anything that will provide a stable roof for their tunnel ie… boards , clay soil,
Landscape fabric ( even with rock on top ), mulch , thick sod , thick weeds, etc.
What they don’t like is bare soil., areas that have been mowed extremely short before winter ( September - October timeframe) and especially small round pea gravel that will collapse into their tunnel.
It seems they do most of their damage to trees ( eating bark and roots ) during the winter when other food is in short supply.
So making them feel unwelcome around a tree before winter seems most important.
Usually by thanksgiving they have found their spot to spend the winter. Convince them to go elsewhere before then.
This has been my observation.
