West Virginia direct seeding on previously harvested site Photos and narrative by Arlyn Perkey
Red oak invests energy in developing a root before developing its top. The large, long root extending downward from the acorn dwarfs the emerging shoot starting upward to the soil surface.
Red oak acorns were germinated in short tree shelters during the 2007 growing season.
At the beginning of the 2008 growing season, ventilated tree shelters were ready to assume the role of tree protector.
Acorns may be germinated right in the Plantra treeshelter.
This Plantra tree shelter is ready to slide over the top of the red oak seedling.
Weed mat is in place to provide competition control immediately adjacent to the vulnerable young seedling.
Close up of ventilation holes in treeshelter.
Numerous small holes in a ventilated Plantra treeshelter provide for abundant air flow to the interior of the shelter. This facilitates the exchange of gases needed for plant growth and maintains similar temperatures inside and outside the shelter.
Black ties hold the tree shelter snug against the support stake. Ties that can be easily loosened make any needed shelter maintenance faster.
On lush, nutrient and moisture rich sites like this one, adjacent vegetation will need to be controlled to keep it from shading the young seedlings in the shelter.
Red oak growing in tree tube. When rainfall is adequate, and roots are established, red oak seedlings will produce a new flush of growth to begin the process of establishing additional height.
When the seedling is well established and growing out of the tube, competition control is less intensive. Surrounding vegetation helps to protect this red oak seedling from deer browsing.
