What exclusion method is recommended to protect seedlings from voles?

What exclusion method is recommended to protect seedlings from voles?

• A. Large-scale fencing
• B. Hardware cloth cylinders with 1/4 inch or smaller mesh, buried 6 inches
• C. Wooden stakes around seedlings
• D. Mulching heavily around base

Answer: (B)

The main idea is to protect each seedling with a physical exclusion barrier that voles cannot penetrate. Using a piece of hardware cloth with a fine mesh around the stem creates a cylinder that fits the seedling and prevents access to the base and crown. The mesh needs to be 1/4 inch or smaller so voles can’t squeeze through, and the barrier should be buried about six inches to stop voles from tunneling underneath. This combination directly shields the plant from gnawing at the stem and root area while allowing the seedling to grow. Other methods aren’t as reliable for preventing vole damage: large-scale fencing can be impractical for many individual plants, wooden stakes don’t stop voles from gnawing or tunneling, and heavy mulching around the base can actually provide cover for voles.

The main idea is to protect each seedling with a physical exclusion barrier that voles cannot penetrate. Using a piece of hardware cloth with a fine mesh around the stem creates a cylinder that fits the seedling and prevents access to the base and crown. The mesh needs to be 1/4 inch or smaller so voles can’t squeeze through, and the barrier should be buried about six inches to stop voles from tunneling underneath. This combination directly shields the plant from gnawing at the stem and root area while allowing the seedling to grow. Other methods aren’t as reliable for preventing vole damage: large-scale fencing can be impractical for many individual plants, wooden stakes don’t stop voles from gnawing or tunneling, and heavy mulching around the base can actually provide cover for voles.