I like the idea of making the cages in a short amount of time. I just don't know if the bunnies or other little critters will do much harm. I also have to make ~30 cages. I used a sawzall with a metal blade to cut the remesh when I was using that. Way easier on the hands but you almost need another person to help. Working on when to get the tress shipped now. Do you use weed fabric or mulch? Thanks for the advice!
I've used a sawzall many times in my work life. Save the aggravation & vibration - buy a small set of bolt cutters - 18" long ones at Lowes or Home Depot will do just fine. You don't need a second person to cut the re-mesh wire. I unroll the roll and lay cement blocks at the intervals I want to cut at - that way the mesh doesn't spring back at you when you cut it. Once cut, the pieces will re-form into circular shape. All you have to do is tie the ends together and off you go. I use #12 insulated, solid copper wire (single strand) to tie with. It never corrodes and is easy on the fingers to tie and untie as needed. Rolls of soft steel tie wire are cheaper - but they'll be a rusty mess in a year. Solid copper insulated wire is a once-and-done deal. Zip ties deteriorate from UV rays of the sun, so some may break on their own.
This "line" is like the lines I've spoken about in other posts concerning spruce. Once planted in a line, look for deer - especially bucks - to utilize your "line" as a travel corridor for the security / cover the spruce provide. Once the spruce get to 6 ft. tall and beyond, I'd have several tree stands within easy shot distance - not kidding!! I've seen - and used (!) - such spruce lines in open hardwoods many times. Once the leaves drop - the spruce lines are the only cover left for deer seeking "safe" travel lanes.
i learned about the wolverine tree spade from Cavey
Are you referring to an individual line of trees used for movement corridors or rows that they walk in between?
Either / both. I've seen deer movement along a single line of spruce, and in the walkway BETWEEN 2 lines of them. I've set myself up for shots using the "spruce cover" deer movement pattern many times. Once the leaves are down, the evergreens (spruce, hemlocks, or pines) are the only darker, shadowy cover left. Deer make use of them.
Bingo.
