I have been testing various hybrid oaks for cold hardiness in Minnesota. Yesterday I was out in the field planting some new trees to replace a few that succombed to the -30F temps we had last winter (that's just in SE Minnesota; another test site in NE MN reached -50F!). Most of the hybrids did very well despite coming from more southern seed sources... the ventilation of Plantra Tree Tubes really helps trees harden off for winter as compared to the old solid wall tubes (in which even native, local seed source trees had difficulty going dormant in time for that first hard frost - which can come as early as mid-September here in MN).
In order to replace the dead trees I had to first remove the Plantra Tree Tubes and Weed Mats. These tubes and mats were installed the first week of October 2008. The mats were applied over living, green grass, thistles, goldenrod, etc.
The photo above shows what I saw when I peeled the weed mats away from the planting spot (click photo to enlarge): Nothing!.. except bare soil, dead weeds, and one lonely sprig of grass that tried to take advantage of the small L-slit in the center of the mat and the advantageous growing environment in the tube.
Very cool.
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