I bought some last year from nativ nurseries. They are pretty nice 4' vented tubes that come with a pvc stake and zip ties. They are also perforated so they can be reused if you want. Also, the bottom 16 inches or so isn't vented so you can spray around the bottom of them without having to worry about getting anything on the tree.

I would like to hear if anyone has found anything comparable or cheaper. I'm always looking!

 

Miracle Pro vented tubes. You can get their 2nds for a little over $2 each. I can't tell their rejects from their regular.


http://www.treepro.com/specials.html

 

rrroae, do you ever find that the tubes make the trees spindly, and as a result, they need more support when the tubes come off? I tried tubes once, and that is what seemed to happen with all my tubed seedlings (Dunstans, Chinese, Sawtooths and Persimmons). As a result, I went back to just caging them. Was my experience unique or is this common with the tubes?

 

No, you are right Tannery. The tree tubes act like a greenhouse and make the seedling grow too quick and they end up needing support. For myself, I cut back some of the seedlings if they are too spindly so their base can catch up to their height. Others I just let go and let them grow until they can support themselves. Also, I like taking the tubes off(depending on species) once they reach around 6' tall. I usually leave the stake and use foresty ribbon to keep them attached for support. I want them out of the browse line of deer but you still need some protection or buck will rub them to death.


There always seems to be issues with whatever method a person uses for their seedlings but I'll continue using tubes because I can spray around the seedlings without killing them and also protect them from moles/voles and deer.

 

Thank you for the info.

 

On making your own tree tubes - there's no good or inexpensive way to do this, since you need translucent plastic tubing that won't harm seedlings as it breaks down in the sun.

On spindly stems - it's true that trees grow taller and thinner in tree tubes, however after the trees emerge from the tubes they slow down in height growth and quickly add caliper. Tree tubes are meant to be left on to support the trunk until the tree can support itself. The biggest mistake people make is removing the tree tubes too soon, before the trees are self supporting. Tree tubes should be left on until the trees reach 3 inch diameter at the base. Also, using vented tree tubes and flexible stakes (like pvc conduit pipe) results in thicker stem growth as compared to the old unvented tubes with rigid wood stakes.

At the end of the day tree tubes & stakes cost about $4 per seedling or so - a lot less than you'd pay to establish seedlings without them (a lot less than wire cages that still don't protect from herbicide or drought).

 

I have planted hundreds from the game commission's Howard nursery in the blue x grow tube. www.growtube.com Only problem I've had with them was initially I used bamboo stakes. That's a big no no. They rot away and snap way too easy after 1 year. Go to your local hardware store and get 10' 1/2" pvc pipes for 90 cents and just cut them in half. Use those as your stakes and your good to go. I'll try to take some pics of my pear trees in them. The seedlings are very spindly until they come out the top of the tube. For me, 2 years on all trees with the blue x tube and I don't have to worry about them anymore.

 

Has anyone tried a couple different kinds to compare? Do they come with stakes?

Better growth, easier to use, cost effective...

 

Read this. And you have to buy your own stakes.


http://71.18.127.24/Articles/MD_TreeShelters.pdf

 

I used ti use them on apple trees but I felt they ended up not being as beneficial as just fencing the trees. I have successfully used them for oak and other hardwoods. There is more maintenance than one might expect to ensure they stay in the ground and straight. And of course they have to be removed when the tree gets large enough.