Poodle Trees

When we first started working with tree tubes to protect hardwood seedlings from deer browse we did not have an answer for conifers. In July we visited John Olds of One-Stop Forestry to look at his innovative use of Plantra Tree Tubes in high density direct seeding of hardwoods, but this post is about poodle trees.

A poodle tree is a conifer the deer have browsed into a coke bottle or dumbbell shape. The tree looks like it had the middle shaved like a poodle.

John planted a Fir tree in his yard. I can't remember if it was a Balsalm or a Fraser Fir. The tree is in his yard and he has a dog, but the deer still get to it. In the lower image John is facing the Fir tree by his home. Notice the large dog and the dense direct-seeded forest behind him. That forest brings the deer close to his house. It is perfect cover.

So what can be done to protect conifers from deer browse? There are two choices. 1) Build a deer exclosure with a tall fence or 2) spray with a durable and effective repellent. Deer Guard Repellent it based on latex paint chemistry so it will not wash off in a rain storm. Apply Deer Guard in Fall after the first frost but only when above freezing. The manufacurer recommends applying while temperatures are between 40-90F. Here is a link to purchase Deer Guard: http://www.plantra.com/buynow/bndeerrepellent.php

For forestry in Northeast Iowa contact John Olds at One Stop Forestry, 101 E Greene Street, Postville, IA 52162; (563) 864-3586.

Babe Winkelman likes Plantra Tree Tubes

Babe is developing a wildlife paradise in NW Minnesota. Unfortunately, the wildlife do not always cooperate. In addition to television, Babe also write a newspaper column. Here is a quote from a recent column:

After planting trees in protective Plantra tubes, I was absolutely amazed by the growth rate of the new seedlings. In one growing season they surpassed the height and girth of trees that I had planted years before without tubes.

To read the whole article go here. Scroll down on the homepage of plantra.com for a video link of babe describing his experience with Plantra Tree Tubes.

(Babe Winkelman is a nationally known outdoorsman who has taught people to fish and hunt for nearly 30 years. Watch his award-winning "Good Fishing" and "Outdoor Secrets" television shows on Versus Network, Fox Sports, Wild TV and many local networks. Visit www.winkelman.com for air times where you live.)

Trail Cam: Searching Elsewhere For Dinner

This spring we set up 2 trail cams to show how Plantra Tree Tubes protect seedlings from deer and to provide a time lapse chronicle of the growth of this western Minnesota hedgerow planting. These trees were planted 4 & 5 years ago, but deer had kept them browsed to knee height until we tubed them this spring. In the first week we got this shot (click the photo to enlarge). She's hard to see but a doe is walking into the field behind the tubes... going elsewhere in search of food now that the seedlings are protected!

Stay tuned for more trail cam updates throughout the summer.

Results: The Tale Of Two Acorns

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... And that's why you need Plantra Tree Tubes!

Longtime friend Arlyn Perkey (US Forest Service, retired) sent this great set of photos from his property in West Virginia. Here's the story: In spring 2007 he planted 2 red oak acorns in a Plantra Tree Tube. Both nuts germinated and grew. In the spring of 2009 he lifted the tree tube, and replaced it over just one of the seedlings, leaving the other unprotected.

Arlyn took this photograph on May 7, 2009:



As you can see, the seedling outside the tube has leafed out and looks good. The seedling in the tube has not quite started to leaf out, due to reduced light conditions (BTW the reduce light helps reduce stress & increase growth later in summer). For the seedling outside the tube, this was the best of times.

Now here's the photo Arlyn took on May 22, 2009 about 2 weeks later:


(click on the photos to enlarge them)
Thanks to the red bandanna that Arlyn added for background you can see that the situation has completely reversed: The seedling inside the tube has leafed out and is growing well. The seedling outside the tube was completely stripped of leaves by deer and is trying to leaf out again... no doubt only to be browsed by deer yet again. Outside the safety of the tree tube, it is the worst of times for this young oak!

(It's also a great photo of the dappled sunlight coming in through the vent apertures in the walls of the Plantra Tree Tubes!)

Thanks to Arlyn for a great set of photographs. After 20 years of trying I know how hard it is to get the right depth of field to take photos like this. To see more photos of Plantra Tree Tubes "in action," visit our photo gallery http://www.plantra.com/photogallery/index.php