FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What payment methods are available / How can I pay?

You can find information about payment methods here.

Can I purchase on account?

Only for schools, public authorities and companies listed in the commercial register after verification.

After entering my credit card details, I was redirected back to the shopping basket. Why is that?

For security reasons, there is a time window within which you can enter your credit card details. If this time window is exceeded, the order cannot be completed and you will be automatically redirected back to your shopping basket, which will still be full. If you are logged in as a customer, all you need to do is confirm all the steps again and re-enter your credit card details – your order will then be processed. You can check your email inbox to see whether the order has been placed if you receive an order confirmation shortly after placing the order.

DELIVERY

How much are our shipping costs?

You can find information about shipping costs here.

Is shipping outside of Germany also possible?

We deliver to many customers outside Germany.
Information on shipping costs to Austria and Switzerland can be found here.
For deliveries to other countries, please contact us by email at info@terragala.de or call us on 0341/ 20098260.

How will my order be delivered?

Palletised goods and items that exceed a certain weight and girth are generally delivered by a freight forwarder. The driver will usually contact you by telephone before delivery. We therefore urgently need a contact person who can be reached by telephone. Items that do not exceed a certain weight and girth are delivered by GLS or DHL. They will also deliver the parcels to your doorstep.

PRODUCTS / TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

What are the differences between TurfProtecta® and GrassProtecta® in terms of their possible uses?

Both products are lawn stabilisation grids that protect the subsoil by distributing pressure, thus helping to prevent ruts, puddles and mud from forming, as well as the destruction of the turf and soil compaction. They do not seal the subsoil. The grass grows through the grid openings and can be mowed as normal. Over time, the turf grows together with the product, which then reaches its maximum effectiveness and becomes less and less visible.

The grass protection products are widely used in the construction of footpaths, cycle paths and wheelchair paths, in the creation of temporary or permanent grass car parks, e.g. for events, but also frequently on golf courses and in private areas. They also help to protect the ground, e.g. for chicken farmers and dog owners.

Both can be easily applied to existing or newly laid lawns. For successful use, please follow the installation instructions.

TurfProtecta® and GrassProtecta® differ in their grid structure and material thickness and thus in their load-bearing capacity:

TurfProtecta® turf protection grid Standard 550g/m² – is suitable for grass paths/footpaths and wheelchair paths on well-drained, firm ground. Occasional use of small tractors/lawnmowers, light golf buggies and similar vehicles is possible. It is also suitable for use as ground protection in animal enclosures for small animal owners.

TurfProtecta® Premium Lawn Protection Grid 660g/m² – suitable for heavily used footpaths, wheelchair and cycle paths, temporary access roads and temporary parking spaces for light cars on well-drained, solid ground. It is also used as ground protection in animal enclosures (poultry, dogs, etc.).

GrassProtecta® Lawn Protection Grid Standard 1.2 kg/m² – is suitable for lawns that are permanently used as car parks, heavily used wheelchair and cycle paths, very busy footpaths, paths for golf buggies and similar. Depending on the ground, the load capacity is up to 2 t axle load.

GrassProtecta® Premium Lawn Protection Grid 2kg/m² – is suitable for lawns that are permanently used as car parks, driveways, runways for light aircraft or as motorhome parking spaces. Depending on the substrate, it can withstand axle loads of up to 8 tonnes.

For information on using GrassProtecta® as a riding surface, please see the separate question.

For even heavier loads, we recommend BodPave®85 lawn grids (up to 400 t/m²).

Which product is suitable for reinforcing ground used by horses? What should be taken into account?

The GrassProtecta® Premium 2kg/m² turf stabilisation grid is also suitable for reinforcing the ground in feeding areas on paddocks, paddock walkways, etc. for horses. However, it should be noted that the freshly laid, still exposed product is slippery when wet and can pose a risk to fast-moving horses. It is therefore recommended that free-roaming horses are only allowed onto the relevant areas once the grid has grown into the turf.

Alternatively, the BodMat flexible ground protection grid is recommended. It has the same grid structure and, in addition to the advantages offered by GrassProtecta®, has anti-slip properties due to its material. If the material is only to be used for ground reinforcement (without grass or until the grass has grown over the product), an additional layer of sand is advisable to further minimise the risk of slipping. Large-scale use in areas where horses gallop freely is not recommended. Here, too, the turf should first grow over the grid structure.

What are the advantages of a tree guard?

Growth – thanks to the microclimate, Tubex growth sleeves promote accelerated, healthy and balanced growth with a balanced ratio between root and shoot growth.

Uniform growth – Tubex growth sleeves enable uniform growth throughout the entire plantation, making tree pruning, adjustment and maintenance more efficient.

Harvest one year earlier – Due to the microclimate created inside the growth sleeve, winegrowers are able to harvest their grapes one year earlier. This was investigated by Graham Due (1996) in Australia, where his studies showed that good soil preparation and the use of growth sleeves enabled some winegrowers to harvest their grapes after only 18 months.

Survival rate – Replacing failed crops is costly. Therefore, survival rates are very important when establishing a plantation. Tubex growth sleeves reduce plant stress, protect against weeds, minimise irrigation requirements due to increased evaporation within the sleeve and create an optimal growing environment during the early growth stages.

Protection – Tubex growth sleeves offer optimal protection when using herbicides, mechanical maintenance work and grazing animals.

Cost-saving:

• Lower labour costs – reduced tree pruning (fewer side shoots), less frequent tree adjustment (grows naturally along the vine wire), faster inspection/weed control
• Reusable – UV-stabilised polyethylene, photodegradable after a minimum protection period of 2 years.
• Lower costs for replanting – the plants survive in the Tubex growth sleeves because they are protected and grow in a balanced manner.
• Early harvesting – using Tubex growth sleeves makes it possible to harvest grapes a year earlier

What is a TUBEX growth sleeve?

Tubex growth or protective sleeves were developed in the late 1970s in the United Kingdom through a collaboration between Tubex Ltd. and the British Forestry Commission. The main objective at the time was to support the reforestation of the United Kingdom after forest stocks had been severely depleted during the Industrial Revolution. The philosophy behind growth sleeves has since been recognised and adopted in a number of countries around the world. Tubex has become the market leader in the field of individual protection.
Growth sleeves improve plant growth while protecting them from external hazards. As a result, growth sleeves have a direct impact on the quality and cost of reforestation and crop maintenance.
Tubex growth sleeves are available in various heights and diameters – for shrubs and trees as protection against wildlife (from rodents to red deer). The growth sleeve is stable and round and made of double-walled polypropylene. The sleeve is held in place by an external wooden stake made of untreated acacia. Ventilation holes regulate the internal climate, and a laser line serves as a predetermined breaking point if the tree grows thicker faster than the sleeve naturally decomposes. The upper edge is rounded so that the tree bark is not damaged.

Which trees are suitable for growth sleeves?

Tubex growth sleeves can be used for all deciduous tree species and in all locations. The assumption that growth sleeves are only beneficial for oak trees has been refuted by many years of practical experience. There is no deciduous tree species that would not grow significantly faster when cultivated with a growth sleeve. Excellent results have been achieved in particular with noble deciduous tree species such as cherry and all maple species. Even the rarer native Sorbus species, such as the service tree or the wild service tree, develop growth rates in the sleeve that are sometimes twice as high as those of unprotected plants. Climate change will also have a wide range of effects on forests and the planting of forest trees. Tubex growth sleeves can facilitate work both in forest conversion to make forests fit for climate change and after the increasingly frequent calamities. Stable forests need optimal root growth and protection against wildlife. Growth sleeves have proven particularly useful when introducing locally rare tree species to achieve the goal of a "mixed forest".

Why is the diameter of the various tree protection tubes (TUBEX, Treeguard, Shelterguard) given as a range?

The tree protection tubes are always nested inside each other for more efficient transport, i.e. there are 3-5 tubes with increasing diameters inside each other. Within the specified diameter range, it is not possible for customers to select individual diameters.

Which products can be used to protect trees with larger diameters?

To protect already planted and/or older trees with larger diameters, you can use products for larger diameters or customised cuts, such as layflats, cut sheets (pre-cut mesh sheets) or roll goods. There are also tube products with a height of 60 cm and a larger diameter for planting bushes, which are marked with the suffix "Plus" in the product description.

MISCELLANEOUS

Is there a printed catalogue that you can send me?

We would be happy to send you a catalogue. Please send us an email at info@terraGala.de or call us on 0341/ 20098260.