Method of Preventing Snails from Accessing the Upper Portions of a Tree

Abstract

A method of preventing snails from reaching the upper portion of the plant or tree utilizes a device which bars access to leaves and fruit subject to attack from the snails. Embodiments of the device utilized in the method have an inner funnel-shaped sleeve which biases against the tree trunk to provide a sufficiently tight closure to prevent snails from climbing between the trunk and the device. Embodiments of the device have a downward facing surface having a plurality of closely-spaced downwardly facing spike members. These spike members are sufficiently closely spaced so as to substantially or completely prevent snails, including small-sized young snails, from moving across the downwardly facing surface to crawl around the outside of the device to gain access to the upper portion of the tree.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
         1 . A method of preventing snails from accessing an upper section of a tree trunk, the method comprising the steps of:
 separating a ring barrier apart at a break in the ring barrier, wherein the break has a first side and a second side and wherein the ring barrier comprises a barrier member comprising a downwardly facing surface, the downwardly facing surface comprising a plurality of closely-spaced downwardly facing spike members;   encircling a lower section of the tree trunk with the ring barrier; and   connecting the first side of the break to the second side of the break.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ring barrier further comprises a plurality of adjacent radially disposed barrier members, the barrier members each having an outside edge and each having an inside edge, the ring barrier further comprising a sleeve member attached to the barrier member, wherein the outside edges are attached to an inner surface of the sleeve member such that the plurality of adjacent radially disposed barrier members define a funnel member such that the outside edges define an outer rim and the inside edges define an inner rim, wherein the inner rim is sized to encircle the trunk of the tree. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of attaching the ring barrier to the tree trunk by attaching attachment strips extending upwardly from the circular sleeve member to the tree trunk.