I seem to remember seeing terracotta ring segments similar to what you are wanting, but don't remember where. It seems to me, one of the reasons they are not more readily available is it would be difficult to produce the variety of sizes required to serve the market. I have found a few other solutions. http://www.eco-gardening.com/612/copper_tree_ring_planter.php Three of these could be arranged around your tree so that the trunk comes through the center: http://www.markstaar.com/product/129/789.html http://www.markstaar.com/product/129/790.html Also, if you find an air conditioning duct maker, some other metal shop, fencing company, etc., you might be able to have something custom made to your liking. Good Luck.

Plastic sleeve tree guards are recommended the most. Before winter comes, I buy three hardwood stakes to help it stand. Then at the base of the tree guard, I pierce the stakes through a weed mat as to control water and sediments from entering through. Then, I can comfortably hibernate during winter season without worrying about the young trees getting iced up. Plus, no more voles pester my vegetation. Here is a link that might be useful: Tree Guards

I know that I've told this story several times in this forum but it's worth posting again, I hope. I was called out to a large commercial site where nearly all of the hundreds of newly planted trees were showing signs of serious problems. Both the landscape architect and the landscape contractor were ordered (not by me, but the owner of the property) to be on this inspection, too. I discovered that all of the trees (which were 3 inch caliper B&B) had been planted with EVERYthing still intact: the full metal basket, burlap, poly rope and even the lifting straps. When I commented on this, the contractor said that the LA told him to do it that way. The LA said that leaving all of that intact made it easier to lift the trees when they died. By the way, the trees were declining for completely different reasons. But had they managed to survive for a few years, the rope and straps could easily have done them in.

Copper is toxic to many invertebrates.In reef aquariums, it is something we avoid,b/c it hurts corals and other life.It is also a good treatment for disease in fish.With snails and slugs,it is best to place the copper tape or even some pennies around the outside of the pot,but attatched tot he post.This stops the critters from crawling up the pot and eliminates any concern of contricting or harming the trunk of the tree.Pennies or tape can be places in the pot in a circle aroung the trunk,but not on it,so they would have to cross the copper,before gettting to the trunk.The copper is like an electric fence to the slugs and snails,it reacts with their mucus and ''shocks them''.The problem with the beer and other attempts at bait is that if the snails or slugs bypass the traps,they still get to the tree,they wil not cross properly placed copper.