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Growing Tomorrow's Forests. . . Today
Itasca Greenhouse, Inc. - Conifer and Hardwood Tree Seedlings

Plantra® Treeshelter Instructions

Thank you for choosing Plantra ®Treeshelters to protect your seedlings and get your newly planted trees off to a successful start!

If you have any questions about your treeshelters, please don’t hesitate to contact us:

Email info@itascagreenhouse.com

Toll-free: 1-800-538 8733

Basic Instructions for ALL Plantra® Treeshelters

  • All Plantra® Treeshelters are meant to protect small seedling trees (trees that are shorter than the treeshelter itself). Treeshelters are not meant for use as a “bark wrap” around sapling trees (trees that are already taller than the treeshelter).
  • Side branches – If your seedlings have side (lateral) branches, do NOT bend these upward to squeeze them into the tube. This will lead to narrow branch crotch angles, which are weak branch attachments and may be difficult to prune properly in the future.

Prune seedling to a single stem before “tubing” them.

The 6 steps to a successful planting project We know that you have already followed most of these steps, but it may be helpful to review this procedure in order to increase the success of your planting project:

  • PLANT SELECTION- Select tree species to plant which will thrive in your soil and climatic conditions. Trees that are well suited to your site will provide much more enjoyment and will be much more rewarding than “higher value” trees that are not suited for your growing conditions. Improperly chosen species will struggle year after year.
  • SITE PREPERATION- Proper site preparation is critical. Just like the house painter who spends 6 days “prepping” the walls so that the actual painting takes only one day and yields perfect results, the more planning and effort you invest in site preparation the more successful your project will be. Ask your forester or county conservationist about the best methods of site preparation in your area.
  • PLANTING- Plant seedlings to the proper depth, which will allow the roots to “fan out” when planting. Avoid upward-bending J-roots and spiraling roots. Gently tamp the soil around the newly planted tree to avoid air pockets and soil settling issues.
  • BROWSE PROTECTION- Use treeshelters to protect your future crop trees from deer, rabbits and rodents.
  • WEED CONTROL- Using treeshelters will make the seedlings easier to find for weed control, and protect them from herbicide spray. Because trees can’t compete for sun, water and nutrients with grasses and brush, weed control is necessary! Weed control consists of 2 parts: Complete weed control (spraying, mulching or using weed mats) around each seedling, and generally keeping grasses and brush low by mowing to reduce rodent habitat.
  • MAINTENANCE- A guideline for treeshelter removal is when the base of the tree = 3 ½” in diameter. The treeshelters do have perforated edges that will break as the stem is expanding, however, treeshelters are not meant to stay on indefinitely. Treeshelters should be inspected annually, and removed before the tree reaches the diameter of the tube.

A word about Bird Netting 4 and 5 foot Plantra® Treeshelters come with purple netting that can be placed around the circumference of the treeshelter top. Use of this bird netting will prevent birds from nesting or becoming trapped in the treeshelter.

Installing Plantra ® C-STYLE TREESHELTERS

Drive the stake 1.5 to 2 inches away from the seedling.

Use the tie hole tabs to form a cylinder (insert one edge of the vertical slit into the tie hole tabs of the opposite edge).

Lower the tube over the seedling, with the overlapping edges against the stake.

Thread the “zip ties” through the tie hole tabs, and cinch tight around the stake.

For 2 ft C-style tubes, use 2 ties (top and bottom tie holes)

For 3 ft and taller C-style tubes, use 3 ties (top, middle and bottom tie holes)

Place bird netting over the top of 4ft and 5ft tubes in areas where bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds are present.

Installing Plantra® O-STYLE TREESHELTERS

The first thing to notice about O-style tubes is that there are tie holes closer to one end than the other. The end with the tie holes closest to the end is the TOP of the tube.

Drive the stake approximately 2 inches from the seedling.

Lower tube down over seedling, with tie hole tabs facing the stake.

When the base of the tube is flush to the ground, thread “zip ties” through the tie hole tabs, and cinch tight around the stake.

TIPS:

The stake should be OUTSIDE the tube, to allow optimal growing volume for the seedling inside.

Make sure that base of the tube is pushed slightly into the soil, or at least is tight against the soil – making a good seal. If you cannot seal the tube against the soil, mound loose soil around the base of the tube to a height of about 2 inches.

VENTING – with C-style tubes the middle tie hole tabs can be removed to provide ventilation and promote dormancy of some tree species in northern climates.

 

 

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