Tree planting in tubes

[fatharrywhite]

A large country estate I do quite a bit of work for has some tree planting for me most years & they organise the trees & materials from the nursery. The last few years they've been getting the 1.2 metre tall tubes as there's a deer problem but the thing is that they're expecting me to plant softwoods like Spruce & Pine in them which doesn't make sense to me- although admittedly they have been supplying special ones with slits/ airholes in them. Can anyone give me a 2nd opinion on this? I would have thought most conifer trees would have no chance in that environment.

[richyrich]

There is a very good tree and planting sundries company- Farm Forestry. I would ask them for advice. They sell mesh guards which I think are better for conifers.

[nemcc]

We plant soft wood in tubex shrub shelters about 2ft tall but a lot wider.

And hard wood in 4 to 6 ft tubes depending on what bloody dear species is in the area.

Or nets with canes if no deer about

[fatharrywhite]

The company used to order the smaller mesh guards but have gone exclusively onto the taller tubes recently because of deer damage. I think they're getting the advice from the Nursery who don't appear to know all that much about trees either.

[woody paul]

Spruce and pines need air flow otherwise foliage will go mouldy, if tall guards have slits in maybe OK but would just point out to land owner if you are not happy with what nursery are saying then it should fall back to them if problems. 

[fatharrywhite]

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Spruce and pines need air flow otherwise foliage will go mouldy

That's what I thought, & 1.2metres seems like a long way for a conifer to grow to put out some branches when normally they grow outwards before they get to that height. 

Edited January 30, 2022 by fatharrywhite

[Squaredy]

Hopefully we are moving to a situation where we are addressing the real problem (deer and lack of their predators in this case) so we don’t need to use plastic guards.  Woodland Trust have totally stopped using guards.

[Stere]

Thought deer pop was higher than ever.....

 

[daveindales]

On 28/01/2022 at 21:17, fatharrywhite said:

A large country estate I do quite a bit of work for has some tree planting for me most years & they organise the trees & materials from the nursery. The last few years they've been getting the 1.2 metre tall tubes as there's a deer problem but the thing is that they're expecting me to plant softwoods like Spruce & Pine in them which doesn't make sense to me- although admittedly they have been supplying special ones with slits/ airholes in them. Can anyone give me a 2nd opinion on this? I would have thought most conifer trees would have no chance in that environment.

Your right. 0.75 or 0.6 tubes are a lot better choice. However, they don't address the deer problem. I've planted many 1000s. Always go for the smallest tubes you can get away with. 

Sometimes, the specification is to use 1.2m tubes for conifers, hazel, and hawthorn etc. Totally the wrong choice. But I, just get on with it nowadays.

 

I've also  just planted 500 in biodegradable 0.75 shelters. What a waste of time and money that was. Not my choice, just following the spec.

 

[fatharrywhite]

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Sometimes, the specification is to use 1.2m tubes for conifers, hazel, and hawthorn etc. Totally the wrong choice. But I, just get on with it nowadays.

Do the conifers make it in your experience?