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Tree Seedling Tubes #7418438
11/30/21 02:36 PM
11/30/21 02:36 PM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,897
Wisconsin
E
Eagleye Offline OP
trapper
Eagleye  Offline OP
trapper
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,897
Wisconsin
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.

Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7418478
11/30/21 03:19 PM
11/30/21 03:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,655
Iowa
C
CTRAPS Offline
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CTRAPS  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2019
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Iowa
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
Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7418494
11/30/21 03:32 PM
11/30/21 03:32 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,857
Indiana
P
Providence Farm Offline
trapper
Providence Farm  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,857
Indiana
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.

Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Providence Farm] #7418541
11/30/21 04:27 PM
11/30/21 04:27 PM
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 146
WI
W
Wptourist Offline
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Wptourist  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 146
WI
We also use welded wire. Make a big enough cage so when the tree grows out of the top the tree can’t rub on the sides when windy. I have been buying 1/2” rebar in 20’ lengths and cutting it to make 3 stakes. Push the rebar at an angle to the seedling and push the cage through multiple opening in the welded wire. This stiffens the cage. When the cage is slid down to the soil, pull the rebar cage away from the seedling and slid the cage down further. Once down the cage is under tension and won’t move as much. Spend the money on welded wire and not tree tubes. The deer will eat the top of the trees when they grow above the plastic tubes

Spend the money up front protecting the trees. Better to plant less and get them going then planting a lot and not protecting them

PM me if you have questions, I learned the hard way

Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7418545
11/30/21 04:35 PM
11/30/21 04:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,926
SEPA
L
Lugnut Offline
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Lugnut  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,926
SEPA
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.

[Linked Image]


Eh...wot?

Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7418547
11/30/21 04:38 PM
11/30/21 04:38 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,930
E central Il
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Golf ball Offline
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,930
E central Il
I’ve used the plastic tree tubes for years with no issues. Yes you will get a mouse nest every now and then , we clean them out in the spring. We don’t have bears but do have ground bees but have never had them nest at the bottom before . There is good and bad in most cases but in this case the good out weighs the bad by far.

Send me a pm if you want more information.

Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7418549
11/30/21 04:40 PM
11/30/21 04:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,524
MN
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Donnersurvivor Offline
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MN
https://www.amazon.com/60-Miracle-Tree-Tube-25/dp/B077Y2513C?th=1

I think you can find them a bit cheaper if you look around but these tubes are the way to go. They act as a mini green house, remove before the tree is to large, it's only to get them started.

Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7419056
12/01/21 12:24 AM
12/01/21 12:24 AM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
A
AJE Offline
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AJE  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
I was at a forestry event this Fall & the instructor told us to put a mothball in the bottom of each tube every Fall to help keep the mice out.

Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7419094
12/01/21 01:56 AM
12/01/21 01:56 AM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 552
New York
Camohoyt340 Offline
trapper
Camohoyt340  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 552
New York
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.

Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Camohoyt340] #7432722
12/15/21 10:08 PM
12/15/21 10:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
A
AJE Offline
trapper
AJE  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
Originally Posted by Camohoyt340
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.
Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7432746
12/15/21 10:24 PM
12/15/21 10:24 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 497
PA
P
pick65 Offline
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pick65  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 497
PA
if you are going to use plastic around your seedlings.
use clear or white in color.
do not use green or amber as the tree does not get enough light
and when you take the plastic of the tree will not get enough girth
at ground level. Therefore they will fall over.
Talk to David Wise at 610-268-2153 or stroudcenter.org
pick65

Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7432789
12/15/21 10:57 PM
12/15/21 10:57 PM
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,497
Southern NJ
maintenanceguy Offline
trapper
maintenanceguy  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,497
Southern NJ
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
Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7432790
12/15/21 10:57 PM
12/15/21 10:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,110
Three Lakes,WI 72
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corky Offline
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corky  Offline
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Three Lakes,WI 72
I've wrapped apple trees with aluminum foil to stop mice from chewing them. Worked for me.

Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7432793
12/15/21 10:58 PM
12/15/21 10:58 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,849
ohio
Ohio Wolverine Offline
trapper
Ohio Wolverine  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,849
ohio
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!
Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7432809
12/15/21 11:12 PM
12/15/21 11:12 PM
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,497
Southern NJ
maintenanceguy Offline
trapper
maintenanceguy  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,497
Southern NJ
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
Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7432860
12/15/21 11:59 PM
12/15/21 11:59 PM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,653
Central Texas
C
Chancey Offline
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Chancey  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,653
Central Texas
Originally Posted by Eagleye
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.


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Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7432861
12/16/21 12:01 AM
12/16/21 12:01 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
D
Dirty D Offline
trapper
Dirty D  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
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.

Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Eagleye] #7432862
12/16/21 12:03 AM
12/16/21 12:03 AM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 917
Ontario, Canada
S
sweetwilliam Offline
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sweetwilliam  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 917
Ontario, Canada
You can not get a deer to eat an oak where I live lol

Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: Providence Farm] #7432864
12/16/21 12:05 AM
12/16/21 12:05 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
D
Dirty D Offline
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Dirty D  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
Originally Posted by Providence Farm
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.

Re: Tree Seedling Tubes [Re: sweetwilliam] #7432870
12/16/21 12:08 AM
12/16/21 12:08 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,922
east central WI
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Dirty D Offline
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east central WI
Originally Posted by sweetwilliam
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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