Re: Tree Seedling Tubes
[Re: Eagleye]
#7418478
11/30/21 03:19 PM
11/30/21 03:19 PM
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,740 Iowa
CTRAPS
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,740
Iowa
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We have used a lot of the plastic tree tubes in the past, but for the last several years we have been using 2" x 4" welded wire fencing. We buy it by the roll from Menards. You can get it a couple of different heights. We make the wire fence "tube" about 18" in diameter, then put at least a couple of tall posts or fiberglass stakes around the cage. Be sure and anchor and wire them good. Using the bigger diameter tube allows the seedling to become stronger (wind hardened) as its in the elements. We don't have any bears here to mess with our tubes like you do, but the deer sure make a mess of them once in a while.
Life Member: ITA, IBA & NRA. Member of SA, FTA & NTA
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Re: Tree Seedling Tubes
[Re: Eagleye]
#7418545
11/30/21 04:35 PM
11/30/21 04:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,083 SEPA
Lugnut
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Posts: 20,083
SEPA
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I’ve been trying to get some beech saplings started along the lane to my camp. I transplant 3–4 footers from elsewhere on the property. The porcupines are really hard on them. Out of the 18 I currently have planted I believe I replanted most of those at least once some of them three times after they were girdled. I finally made 7–8 inch diameter tubes that are 33 inches tall out of a 24 x 50 roll of aluminum flashing. After doing some research this seemed to be the best option. I guess I’ll know whether or not it works by spring, winter is when they usually hit them the hardest.
Eh...wot?
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Re: Tree Seedling Tubes
[Re: Camohoyt340]
#7432722
12/15/21 10:08 PM
12/15/21 10:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,103 WI - Wisconsin
AJE
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WI - Wisconsin
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I buy 10 apple tree seedlings every year from the local soil and water conservation district sale. I also buy 10 tree tubes to plant the apple trees in. They are the plastic type. They work great. I have apples on the trees that were planted 5 years ago. That is impressive
Last edited by AJE; 12/15/21 10:08 PM.
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Re: Tree Seedling Tubes
[Re: Eagleye]
#7432789
12/15/21 10:57 PM
12/15/21 10:57 PM
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,497 Southern NJ
maintenanceguy
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,497
Southern NJ
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I use the wire mesh for rabbit cages in my little orchard. Probably 1x1 mesh? I make a tube about 12" in diameter and 24" tall. I use hog rings to close the tube. I also push the bottom a couple of inches into the ground. I only have to worry about ground hogs and rabbits eating the bark around the bottom.
-Ryan
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Re: Tree Seedling Tubes
[Re: Eagleye]
#7432793
12/15/21 10:58 PM
12/15/21 10:58 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,920 ohio
Ohio Wolverine
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ohio
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It's work , but use wire mesh 1/2 or 1/4 inch up to 1x2 inch to keep young rabbits out . Air flow is in my opinion important to the tree bark . Seen a few young trees with plastic tubes , and IMHO they didn't grow like they should of .
We have met the enemy and the enemy is us!
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Re: Tree Seedling Tubes
[Re: Eagleye]
#7432809
12/15/21 11:12 PM
12/15/21 11:12 PM
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,497 Southern NJ
maintenanceguy
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,497
Southern NJ
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I had one peach tree in my orchard that was half the size of the others. It seemed healthy otherwise but stayed small. I decided to cut it down. I was poking around the bottom of the tree clearing some debris so I could cut it off flush with the ground. I found the plastic price tag from the nursery still wrapped around the trunk. The tree was swollen around the tag and the tag was embedded into the bark.
I did some penknife surgery and got the tag off. The tree took off the next year and is doing fine.
Whatever you use, make sure the tree has room to grow.
-Ryan
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Re: Tree Seedling Tubes
[Re: Eagleye]
#7432860
12/15/21 11:59 PM
12/15/21 11:59 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,655 Central Texas
Chancey
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Posts: 3,655
Central Texas
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Looking at planting some oaks in the spring and I plan to protect them with tree tubes 4’-5‘ high with stakes.
There seems to pros & Cons for each style but wondering if anyone has had success with certain types or brands: Hardware Cloth? Perforated Plastic? Solid Plastic?
I’m leaning toward Hardware Cloth because I heard plastic tends to attract mice that nest and girdle the trees and also ground bees’ nest at the base of the tube, later attacking black bears for the larvae. Hardware cloth would take the most effort but I’m willing to do it for a better outcome. Input appreciated.
Evening Sir, the most important thing regarding oak tree establishment is sunlight. Nearly all oaks require a lot of sunlight to survive and thrive, and grow especially when they are young. So where you are planting them is the most important thing. If you are trying to establish them in woodlands where there will be competition from shade tolerant trees, then clear out areas for the oaks. This can be achieved by girdling un-wanted trees as well. I use tree tubes, but care must be taken on the size of sapling you are planting. It has been my experience that a really tall tube to protect does not give the seedling the light energy it needs to grow stout. It ends up being a wiry thing that can't hardly support itself. Thats why a bigger diameter is better, or better yet I just use net wire. Seems to work the best around here. Gives plenty of light, keeps the critters out, and I can make to fit. If planting 10s of thousands of trees which I have done, then making your own tree guard is not feasible, in these situations, buy a guard that gives the young tree plenty of room, protects it from deer, and gives it enough sunlight so that it does not grow spindly trying to reach the sunlight from the top of the guard.
Resident Conspiracy Theorist Accused Moron, Nazi, Low IQ, and Putin Fan Boy
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Re: Tree Seedling Tubes
[Re: Eagleye]
#7432861
12/16/21 12:01 AM
12/16/21 12:01 AM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,941 east central WI
Dirty D
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,941
east central WI
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I use the plastic tubes, I have used 2 different types. These are for primarily White Oaks, and about a dozen Burr Oaks.
One type is the white plastic tube that comes nested, they are varying diameters with approx 1/4 holes on one end of the tube. The open ends are curled over to prevent a sharper edge. The downside of these is mice will chew thru by enlarging one of the 1/4 holes, they do get wasps nesting inside. One other thing is I have had the trees grow thru the 1/4 holes, I'll have to hack up the tube when it comes time to remove them. This type is probably the cheapest.
The other type is a green type with slots punched along its whole length. the slots are very narrow, maybe 1/16 x 1/4 approx. I have had no mice chew thru these. they do get the wasps nesting inside tho . They are more expensive but as I go forward I will buy these.
I have also used chicken wire on White Pine seedlings. I use a 10ft length of chicken wire rolled into a tube. For Oaks I think you could get away with maybe 6 ft length rolled up. I hold them in place with 2) wooden stakes placed opposite each other. The stakes are about 7ft long so they are about the same height as the chicken wire onc3 pounded into the ground. Whether you use hardware cloth or chicken wire you have to make the tube big enough so that the tree won't end up growing thru the cloth/wire openings. Thats one advantage of the tubes, rarely will a branch come out one of the holes.
All my protectors are 5 ft tall and the chicken wire is 6ft I think.
As far as which one is best I would say the chicken wire is. But it costs the most, takes the most work and gets all sorts of grasses and other small plants growing thru the wire so that removing is a PIA. I do believe that the tubes tend to make the tree grow up and provide a micro climate that favors seedling growth up. If you use cloth/wire in the open I suspect you'll have more trees growing thru the openings.
I have some of the Oaks popping out of the tops of the tubes and they have not been touched by the deer yet.
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Re: Tree Seedling Tubes
[Re: Providence Farm]
#7432864
12/16/21 12:05 AM
12/16/21 12:05 AM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,941 east central WI
Dirty D
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,941
east central WI
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I used 6' welded wire about 3' around and one t post to keep them in place to protect the peach and pair trees we planted from the deer. Has worked perfictly but i spent as much on the wire as I did for the trees. Yea, I have discovered that protecting the trees costs more than the trees do. But nothing more frustrating than having an Oak tree growing for 3-4 years and having the deer either rub it to death or chew it to the ground every winter. It seems to me if your going to grow Oaks you HAVE TO protect them from deer.
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Re: Tree Seedling Tubes
[Re: sweetwilliam]
#7432870
12/16/21 12:08 AM
12/16/21 12:08 AM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,941 east central WI
Dirty D
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,941
east central WI
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You can not get a deer to eat an oak where I live lol What kind of Oak? Makes a difference. I have noticed that deer are selective about what they will eat. I have planted 500 White Pines at a place about 20 miles from where I am now. The deer never touched one. Where I am now I planted 10 White Pines and the deer chewed the tops off every one of them. D*mned 4 legged locusts.
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