Protective wrap for preventing damage to girdled trees and other plants and method

A method of protecting girdled plants, comprising:

• providing a flexible, water absorbent protective wrap to be applied to the girdled surface of a plant comprising,
• a flexible porous backing element selected from the group consisting of cotton fabric, paper, synthetic fabric, plastic and nonwoven fabric;
• a tacky hydrophilic matrix attached to the backing comprising a homogeneous hydrophilic stable film having adhesive properties for adhesion to the surface of the plant and being sufficiently pliant to conform to the contours of the plant;
• said matrix including a solid phase comprising about 12 percent to 30 percent of the total weight of the matrix and including a natural or synthetic hydratable polymeric resin selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polymethacrylamide, polyoxyethylene, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide and their cogeners, and a natural or synthetic carbohydrate polymer;
• said matrix including a liquid phase comprising a polyhydric alcohol of from about 25 percent to 65 percent by weight of the matrix;
• and
• applying said wrap to the girdled area of said plant with said hydrophilic matrix bonded to said area for assisting in preserving the life of said girdled plant.