Question: Which style of Plantra Treeshelter should I use, Slit (C-style) or Solid (O-style)?
Answer: First and foremost, if you are in northly areas (zone 5, zone 4, zone 3 or zone 2) and are using 4ft or 5ft tubes for deer protection, we recommend O-style 4ft and 5ft tree tubes. Only 4ft and 5ft O-style tubes are vented to allow trees to harden off (go dormant) properly for winter. 4ft and 5ft C-style tree tubes are not vented, and are not recommended for use in the northern US.
- For forestry, habitat, and windbreak plantings we recommend O-style tubes.
- For horticultural plantings such as vineyards, orchards and ornamental nurseries many growers prefer the C-style product.
...but there are exceptions to every rule!
O-style Tree Tubesare cylindrical in shape, a circular (O-shaped) tube. The advantages are fast installation & large diameter for optimal growth. O-style tubes are generally preferred by tree planters.
By far our most popular product is the 5ft O-style tree tube. It provides the most complete deer protection and growth enhancement available. Shorter versions of the O-style tree tube provide the same easy installation and initial deer protection, but after the trees or shrubs emerge you might have to use Deer Guard repellent until the trees grow past the deer browse line.
Only the 4ft and 5ft O-style tubes are available with venting! Read more about the benefits of venting by clicking here.
Plan to remove and re-use the tubes on other shrubs or trees (especially fast growing species). Note that this is not recommended in deer-populated areas.
C-style Tree Tubesare slit lengthwise, and the two edges are overlapped and fastened to the stake. They are more time-consuming to install, and provide a smaller growing diameter for the tree. While most forest/habitat tree planters favor the O-style Tree Tube, C-style tubes have a following among planters who:
- Are planting vineyards or orchards and want to easily remove and reuse the tubes after successfully establishing vines or trees & training them to the trellis
- Want to join 2 tubes together to make a "double wide" tree tube with extra growing volume- especially for shrubs or tree species with large compound leaves
- Plan to remove and re-use the tubes on other shrubs or trees (especially fast growing species)
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