Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Selecting a site Mail order trees

I don't like grow tubes. Supposedly, they suppose to increase growth and protect against animals. But around here, bucks are attracted to them during rut and its not fun.

Also, it seems like I get more winter topkill with the tree tubes on.

Most around here don't use them. Cost more than the trees, but, supposedly they're reusable. One buddy did use them on the first couple hundred trees he planted and it made a difference. Those trees ARE bigger than more recent plantings. He said he can afford to plant 3 times as many trees without the tubes and accept 10% loss...just math to me.

Thanks, I actually found a couple of University of Maryland articles on them that shed a lot of light. One was a pro acticle, the other was con. My neighbor is using them this year, I guess I'll see how he does.

Lance, what I've read is that some people recommend taking the tubes off early enough in the fall to allow the trees to ease into dormacy. The tubes can act like greenhouses and cause big swings in temperature. But I was also hoping to keep the deer off the trees more, not attract them. Big minus in my book.

Anybody got a picture of the tubes?

We have no choice but to use the tubes due to damage from deer, rabbits, mice, etc. I've used the solid tubes and the mesh. The mesh is the only way to go because it allows the wind to vent. The solid tubes blow over and break the bamboo stakes. Other advantages are that you don't need cable ties with the mesh, you can thread the stakes right through it. I've found that you need to put two stakes in each tube to prevent the wind from rotating them, which augers a hole with a single stake.

Haven't had the deer pull any out yet. Ordered mine from Itasca Greenhouse. They do cost more than the trees but we've planted hundreds and I'd rather protect them than have to do it over again. Tubes

(I am going to practice overdue restraint and NOT post a pic of Fee Waybill and the gang)

...tubes, schmubes.
Whatever happenened to using good old fashioned chicken wire with a couple of #4 rebars? Am I missin' sumthin?

Brettski:

Chick wire and rebar is OK...but cutting about 1000 pieces of rebar aint cheap either...and them bolt cutters get heavy...

....ooops
at work, we call 'em drops (aka; tomato stakes). I s'pose, tho, that if I needed 1000 tomato stakes, business economics may come into play and sway either my decision or my paycheck. I was lookin' at those tubes...they're so damn skinny. That, and they ain't cheap either. I'm thinkin' we just reverted back to one of our original thread focuses: which trees need protection from deer browse. The rest of 'em, well, in my little world they will likely get chicken wire and a couple 'o tomato stakes.

NOTE FROM THE MODERATOR:

This post is another example of "The Completion Backwards Principle." If you can manage the time, please read both meanings in one session.

"talk to ya later"

Here on the Oklahoma plains there are three major hurdles for seedling trees: Critters, Wind, and Heat. The tubes are supposed to protect from all three the first summer growing season. Mesh tubes certainly look like they might be worth the effort after that.