Root protection apparatus

In combination, an apparatus for protecting the soil-bound root system of a plant comprising a collapsible wire basket structure having a plurality of annularly interlinked sinusoidal wire strands defining a circumferential side wall and a bottom wall, said sinusoidal wire strands being loosely woven and connected to an upper annular support ring so as to be expanded to allow said collapsible wire basket structure to receive and confine the soil-bound root system, and wherein the improvement comprises:

• means for supporting said collapsible wire basket structure in an extended position around said soil-bound root system, said supporting means being formed so as to be mounted to said upper annular support ring in a position over the top of said soil-bound root system, and said support means including a first coupling means rotatably attached to said upper annular support ring and a second coupling means for fixedly securing said support means to said upper annular support ring of said collapsible wire basket structure;
• said supporting means comprising an elongated strap having a length corresponding to a distance between opposite sides of said upper annular support ring of said collapsible basket, wherein said first coupling member is integrally formed on one end of said strap and said second coupling means is integrally formed on the opposite end of said strap;
• wherein said first coupling means comprises a first coupling member having a keeper means formed therein to receive said upper annular support ring for rotation thereon;
• and
• wherein said second coupling means comprises locking means formed therein to lockingly engage said upper annular support ring therein when said strap is rotated for engagement with said upper annular support ring.