A tree mat is not a smaller version of a ground cover roll; it solves a different problem, which is what to do where the tree comes out of the ground. The cloth has to sit flat around the trunk, and the hole has to suit the stem passing through it, or the weeds come up in the gap you left. These are cut round, square or as a slit circle that opens around a trunk already in the ground, in diameters from 10 cm to 120 cm and with centre holes of 8 cm, 15 cm or 25 cm. The cloth is woven polypropylene, so water and air still reach the root zone.
Laying a cover along a row is a straightforward job. Laying one around a tree is not, because the trunk comes up through the middle of it and whatever you leave around that trunk is where the weeds will come back. A tree mat is made for that one problem, and the two numbers that matter are the diameter of the mat and the size of the hole in the middle.
A closed circle is the tidiest option where the mat can be dropped over the tree while it is still small enough to pass through the hole, and it is the usual choice on a new planting. Where the tree is already in the ground and cannot be lifted, a slit circle opens along one radius so the mat can be wrapped around the trunk and closed behind it, which is the practical answer for established trees in a garden or an older orchard block. A square mat uses the material more economically and is often chosen where the mats are being cut on site from a roll or where the rows are being kept straight. All three are supplied with the same woven cloth, so the choice is about the tree rather than the fabric.
The mats are used around fruit trees in an orchard, on specimen and garden trees where mowing right up to the trunk is difficult, and around nursery stock before it is lifted. Because the cloth lets water and air through, the root zone under the mat is not sealed, which matters on young trees where the root system is still developing and on sandy ground where water has to go straight down. Growers raising the same stock often order a planting bag alongside them, and the shade net range covers the covers that go over the canopy rather than around the trunk.
| Model | WB-005 |
| Material | Woven polypropylene geotextile |
| Weight | 65 to 400 gsm |
| Shape | Round, square and slit round |
| Mat width | 10 cm to 120 cm |
| Centre hole | 8 cm, 15 cm and 25 cm, or made to order |
| Colour | Black, green and white |
| Service life | 1 to 5 years depending on grade and use |
The centre hole is the line that decides whether the mat does its job. Too tight and it will not go over the trunk without tearing at the edge; too loose and there is a ring of bare soil around the stem where weeds come up, which is exactly the strip the mat was bought to cover. The three stock sizes of 8 cm, 15 cm and 25 cm cover young trees, fruit trees in their first seasons and larger stems, and anything outside that is cut to order. Width works the other way: a narrow mat of 10 to 30 cm is enough to keep a mower off the trunk, while a 90 to 120 cm mat is used where the whole root zone is being kept clear of grass and weeds. Where the ground is being covered in long strips rather than around individual stems, a knitted monofilament net is the better fit.
Shape, weight, diameter, centre hole and colour are all made to order, and mats can be supplied in size runs that match a planting rather than in single sizes, so one order covers a block. The mats can be laid on the surface or set just under it where the ground is being worked. Tell us the stem diameter at the collar, how much ground you want kept clear around each tree and how many trees there are, and we will confirm the hole and the width. Buyers tracking what is being laid under orchard and nursery stock can follow trade coverage such as HortiDaily and FreshPlaza for what growers are installing.
What size centre hole do I need?
Measure the stem diameter at the collar and allow a little clearance so the mat is not cutting into the bark as the tree grows. The stock holes are 8 cm, 15 cm and 25 cm, and anything outside that is cut to order.
Can a mat be fitted around a tree that is already planted?
Yes. A slit round mat opens along one radius so it can be wrapped around the trunk and closed behind it, which is the usual choice for established trees. A closed circle needs the tree to be lifted to pass through the hole.
Does the mat stop water reaching the roots?
No. The cloth is woven polypropylene rather than a solid sheet, so water and air pass through it to the root zone. Tell us the soil and how the block is irrigated and we will advise on the weight.
Tell us the stem diameter, the width of clear ground you want around each tree, and how many you need, and we will confirm the mat size, the centre hole and the packing that suit your order.
Mark Wu, Co-founder & Technical Director, Sichuan Zhifang Net Industry. 15 years manufacturing agricultural nettings for growers in 32 countries.
