Crapemyrtle – Protecting The Trunk

Q: I am planting tree-form crepe myrtles on a horse farm and want to protect the trunks from the horses. Can I split black corrugated drain pipe and install around the trunks to prevent the horses from chewing on them?

A: This will work when the trees are small but there’s always a chance a fungus or borer might attack where you can’t see under the plastic pipe. I think wrapping the trunks loosely with chicken wire would be a better option. It will deter chewing and you can loosen it as the trunks grow larger.