--Introduction--
The new expandable Eco(nomy) Spiral from Rainbow is a great option to protect young seedlings when budgets are tight.
Despite its narrower diameter of 32mm, (compared to 38/40mm/50mm for a ‘standard’ spiral), it has been designed to expand up to 42mm.
Made from 100% recycled PVC, the spiral design enables it to be wrapped around or slotted over a supporting cane and young seedling hedge or tree plant, protecting against animal browsing of the main stem, and allowing the plant to expand naturally, avoiding strangulation.
Benefits
- Protects from browsing animals.
- Protects from herbicide spray.
- Creates microclimate to promote healthy growth.
- Expands with plant growth – avoiding strangulation.
- Very quick and easy to install.
Installation (view the installation tab above for a more comprehensive installation guide)
- Plant young seedling.
- Insert cane next to plant, ideally on the prevailing windward side, ensuring one third of the cane is pushed into the ground.
- Ensure the spiral is the correct way up.
- Either feed the Eco Spiral over both the cane and the plant, taking care not to damage any stems.
- Or starting at the bottom of the plant, wrap the Eco Spiral around both the cane and the plant.
- At the end of its useful life (typically 3 to 5 years) remove for recycling (more information on recycling is available here) or to create energy from waste through your local waste collection provider.
--Specification--
| Dimensions | Eco Spiral |
| Height^ | 60cm |
| Diameter^ | 32mm expanding to 42mm |
| Nest | 5 |
| Box | 300 |
^Manufacturing tolerance of +/- 12mm length, and +/- 4mm on diameter.
| Protection Against | Eco Spiral |
| Vole | ✔ |
| Rabbit | ✔ |
| Hare | |
| Deer |
| Material | ||||||
| Spiral | 100% recycled PVC | |||||
| Colour | Clear | |||||
| Service life | Estimated 3-5 years | |||||
| End of life | Remove and recycle or remove for energy from waste | |||||
| Recyclable | Yes | |||||
| Recommended support | Cane | |||||
--Features & Benefits--
Plant Welfare
Animal protection
Protects young plants from bark-stripping and browsing animals.
Herbicide protection
The spiral helps protect from herbicide spray.
Light transmission
Transparent material allows for increased UV light to encourage side stem growth.
Expanding spiral
The Eco Spiral 'expands' with the plant, avoiding strangulation.
Lifespan
UV stabilised
Provides minimum 3 years protection.
Recyclable
Through local supplier or via the Rainbow Spiral Recycling Scheme.
Installation
Nested
For ease of movement around site.
Easy installation
Spiral round or insert over plant.
--Range Choices--
Height
Identify which damaging agent (animal) you wish to protect your plants from.
This will influence the height of your protection and the cane to support it.
The 60cm Rainbow Eco Spiral can help protect against voles and rabbits.
Rainbow Eco Spiral Available Sizes
| Protecting against | Vole | Rabbit | Hare | Muntjac, Roe Deer | Fallow Deer | Red Deer |
| Minimum height of protection | 20cm | 60cm | 75cm | 1.20m | 1.50m | 1.80m |
| Height of supporting cane* | 90cm |
*It is advisable to use a longer cane for sandier, lighter soils.
Diameter types
Rainbow Eco Spirals are nested in 5’s (one inside the other), to save space and time when moving plant protection around a site.
The narrow diameter of a Rainbow Eco Spiral (32mm, expanding as the plant grows to 42mm), makes them most suitable for young, slender seedlings.
Wider diameter spirals (38mm, 40mm and 50mm) are available here.
--Installation--
Plant
Planting bare root or cell grown plants is a straightforward task, however, do not attempt to plant if the ground is frozen or waterlogged.
Find a suitable position for your plants, bearing in mind future growth and potential height and spread at maturity.
Bare rooted or cell grown plants can be ‘notch’ planted in 3 steps.
1. Begin by inserting the blade of a spade into the ground. Push the spade handle away from you and then bring it back towards you. Once you remove the spade, you will see that you have created a cavity or 'notch' in the ground.
2. For bare root - place the plant roots within the cavity and shake to ensure that all of the roots are in the cavity and pointing downwards.
For cell grown - place the cell gently into the ground. Ensure the top of the plug (the soil surrounding the roots) is positioned at 2 to 4cm below the surface to avoid drying out.
3. Fill the cavity with soil. Use your heel to firm the soil around the plant to remove any air pockets. Once planted, give them a good water if practical to do so.
You are now ready to install your support and protection.
Support
1. After planting, position the cane on the windward side if there are strong prevailing winds, and between 2cm to 5cm from the base of the plant.
2. Press the cane into the ground (ideally knocking 1/3 of its height into the ground). Ensure it is vertical (particularly important on sloping ground).
Protect
1. Eco Spirals can be installed by feeding over the top of the plant and cane – taking care not to damage any stems. Alternatively they can be wrapped around the plant from the base up.
ImportantThe spiral should be installed the correct way up, to avoid strangulation of the plant as it grows.
2. At the end of its useful life (typically 3+ years) remove the Eco Spiral for recycling or for energy from waste.
--Download--
