I use the 5' concrete wire from menards and like the wide diameter(5') around trees to keep deer of of branches. Something I started doing a few years ago was narrow the cage and then using a bolt cutters, cut the wire at the top three or four horizontal pieces in same column and then pull those portion out. I'd cut the wire in the center so there'd be a sharp tag end sticking out to further dissuade the deer from trying to get closer to the tree. Basically the cage would be about two feet wide for 3.5' or so and then the portion above that would be pulled out to make it 2.5' from the tree at farthest point. The wire allows it to be shaped just how one wants it and the branches tell you where to cut it to make the cut that will be pulled out.
I put tree tubes cut vertically around the trunks as when they are cut vertically they allow me to roll them as tight as the trunk is and then I sink them into the ground around them and they hold the shape. I have yet to have any damage from the tube or varmits since doing this. I've had mouse nest in tubs that were left whole and around trunks. Thankfully they didn't girdle the trees. The window screen shown above looks good and I've use that but it was more cumbersome (for me) than the tube process I use. I have been using the same tubes for trees the past ten years. I just recycle them to the next batch of fruit trees I'm planting as well as the tree cages.
Chainsaw, In your situation where you need 6' and you could use two t-posts and put the wire off the ground a ft or so to give you the height you need. The rolls are 150' and would be a cheaper and in my opinion better option. When I first started making tree cages I used the welded wire you speak of and many time the welds break and then there is wire where I don't want wire dangling and such. There is also a lot more cuts one has to make when cutting it to size than the wider spaced concrete mesh wire.
I put tree tubes cut vertically around the trunks as when they are cut vertically they allow me to roll them as tight as the trunk is and then I sink them into the ground around them and they hold the shape. I have yet to have any damage from the tube or varmits since doing this. I've had mouse nest in tubs that were left whole and around trunks. Thankfully they didn't girdle the trees. The window screen shown above looks good and I've use that but it was more cumbersome (for me) than the tube process I use. I have been using the same tubes for trees the past ten years. I just recycle them to the next batch of fruit trees I'm planting as well as the tree cages.
Chainsaw, In your situation where you need 6' and you could use two t-posts and put the wire off the ground a ft or so to give you the height you need. The rolls are 150' and would be a cheaper and in my opinion better option. When I first started making tree cages I used the welded wire you speak of and many time the welds break and then there is wire where I don't want wire dangling and such. There is also a lot more cuts one has to make when cutting it to size than the wider spaced concrete mesh wire.
