Abstract: A plant guard for protecting plants against pest attack. The guard (10) comprises a knitted hose-like net structure which is intended to form a casing around the guard. Connected to the bottom part (13) of the net structure are mutually crossing hang-threads (14) which form the bottom of the guard. A closure thread (17) is located at the other end of the net structure, this thread when tightened gathering together the upper part of the guard. The closure thread (17) is knitted integrally with the net structure and comprises a thread of high surface friction, so as to be self-locking when tension is released. At least one loop (18) formed from the closure thread is attached to the bottom end (15) of an adjacent, corresponding plant guard, such that the closure thread (17) is drawn together when the two plant guards are separated one from the other. The application also describes a method and a circular knitting machine for manufacturing such a plant guard.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing a plant with a guard which has the form of a net, foil or the like and which is effective against insect attack, the arrangement including an applicator which has a plant through-passage (3) and which is arranged to carry a plurality of hose-like plant guards (17) which surround the aforementioned passage and which are provided with means (19) for stripping the plant guards from the applicator when a plant moved through the passage is caused to pass out from the applicator. A plant guard (17) included in the arrangement comprises a first portion (21), arranged to surround at least the lower part of the plant above the ground, and a second portion (25) intended to surround the plant in the ground. The first guard portion is capable of decomposing in an atmospheric environment within the space of a few years, while the second guard portion is capable of decomposing in the soil environment in a much shorter space of time.