The protective sleeve device is intended to prevent damage to irrigation equipment caused by trees, shrubs, and grass roots. The device is a copper sleeve designed to naturally repel plant roots. The profile shape of the device enables it to fit around any pop-up style sprinkler head. Preferably, the device is made of rectangular panel that is rolled into a cylinder and held in shape by curved edges of the panel. Due to the unique one-piece construction, the device easily installs on both new and existing irrigation systems. Thus, as tree roots expand, the copper material in the device naturally deflects the tree roots away from the sensitive irrigation equipment. In addition, the device can be adapted to fit side-mounted pop-up sprinkler heads with the help of a cutout provision, wherein the user can insert the side-mounted pop-up sprinkler inlet tube into the groove of the cutout.