Tree Tube Removal

P1120546, a photo by P_Linehan on Flickr.

Tree tubes are frequently used to protect seedlings from deer browsing. Many types of tubes should decompose after a few years when the tree grows out of the reach of the deer. In this case on the Michaux State Forest the tubes did not degrade, even after ten plus years, often causing severe damage to the tree. In this case where the tree grew right into the tube, there is a thick layer of moss, indicating that water was retained.

This past Friday, forest technology students from Mont Alto volunteered to help remove failed tubes on the Michaux State Forest. It's very labor intensive to remove what should have fallen away by itself.