Tree Seedling Protectors - 24"

$2.45


FREE SHIPPING
SKU TP245

Our Tree Seedling Protectors are commercial grade polyethylene slit tubes that are used to protect seedlings from damage. They can be formed from a flat sheet in a tube with the included releasable zip ties. The tubes have permanent venting, a 4.15" diameter, and are UV stabilized for 5-7 years.

The tree seedling protectors can be used in a number of applications including evergreen trees, berry plants, and vineyards. This product can be easily moved and reused multiple times.

***Minimum Order Requirement is 100 Units.***

Available in 12", 18", 24", 30", 36", 48", 60", and 72" height options. View All Products >

Stakes and bird net not included.

PRODUCT SPECS

  • Brand: TreePro
  • Size: Various
  • Material:  Polypropylene
  • Free Shipping
  • Need a written quote? Please call or email us.
  • Questions?  Call (800) 413-9715

Installation

SHIPPING TIME

  • All items ship for free (standard ground, see map)
  • Call: (800) 413-9715 for pricing and shipping questions.

Most orders ship within 1-2 business days (M-F) if order is placed before 11:00 AM EST. Transit times displayed in the map are listed in business days, are approximate and are specific to this product line. The day that the order is shipped is not counted as a transit day.

Features

  • Rigid, Single-wall design with a seam down one side
  • 100% Recycled Polyethylene (milk jug plastic) Slit Tube
  • UV Stabilized for 5 to 7 years
  • Tab Flared Top to protect seedling from sharp edges
  • Tube diameter of 4.15" (allows connecting multiple protectors for larger diameter)
  • Permanent Venting- Vents start half way up to allow herbicide spray around the base
  • Releasble UV Treated Zip Ties included
  • Mesh Bird Net at no additional cost upon request for 48” and taller

Specs

  • Made of HDPE (#2 plastic)
  • 3/8" Vent and tie placement holes
  • UV Stabilized for 5-7 years
  • Includes releasable zip ties

Growing Trees from Seeds: An Overview

Planning And Preparation

Good planning and preparation come first and foremost. Know what kind of trees you want on your property. First off, ask yourself what trees are less susceptible to disease, less vulnerable to the elements, and what trees are not? Do you want fruit trees, then what fruits are on the top of your list? Maybe you would prefer a field of mighty oak trees or prefer trees that require very low maintenance. Planning takes knowing what kind of trees you are looking for. Preparation takes learning and carrying out actions to get your dream off the ground. Before selecting your trees, know your soil and climate so you can narrow down your search. Not all trees are the same, different species have different needs to grow strong and flourish. In the planning stage, reach out to nurseries or other facilities that run soil tests and are knowledgeable in tree types. Look around and take note of what trees growing in your climate have the highest population. Tiny seeds need the right environment to grow.

Sprouting Seedling

Tree Seedling Sprouting

Seeds

Seeds are very inexpensive and will give you the chance to grow just a few trees or a forest worth. You will save time, energy, and money. Also, when selecting seeds you can select the strongest seedlings available and you never know, in time you might come up with your own variety of trees.

Keep in mind, if you gather seeds from an apple tree, it's very unlikely you will have the same characteristics in the seeds as found in the original tree. Also, if you choose to purchase plants grown from seeds, they will probably be genetically different from the original trees. If you wonder why, read on.

Fruit trees rely on cross-pollination to produce fruit. As an example, seeds taken from your favorite apple tree will be a combination of the cultivar and the particular pollinator that fertilized the flower.

Note – Cultivars are a cultivated plant that retains traits when propagated. That includes division, roots, and cuttings from stems, grafting, offsets, tissue culture, or controlled seed production.

A cultivar is a kind of plant that is chosen for certain results and will not lose its characteristics when propagated. The process used to propagate include stem cuttings, grafting, division, offsets, tissue culture, and carefully controlled production of seeds.

Generally, apple trees grown from a specific seed will not have the same characteristics as the parent tree. The only way that might happen is by deciding to grow thousands of seeds and find an offspring with the mother's genetics. That can be close to impossible and could be a thousand-to-one outcome.

If you are determined to have the same results from the cultivated apple tree with the same fruit size and offering the same production rates, you will have to clone the tree which can only be done by grafting.

What Seeds Should Be Used?

There are no certain seeds required to get fruits or nuts as good if not better than the original tree. The upside, you do not have to grow as many trees to get the results you are looking for.

Some trees you should look into for growing from seed include walnut trees and apple trees. Research has shown that trees grown from seed are self-pollinators. If so, there is a good chance you will get the same seeds as long as there are no other pollinators in the area.

Prepping to Plant a Tree

Gardener Prepping to Plant a Tree

Time To Grow Trees From Seeds

There are two ways to grow trees from seeds. The natural way includes sowing the seeds outside in the fall or autumn. The other way is assisted germination which is performed inside.

Stratification is placing the seeds close together in layers of moist peat to preserve them and help in the germination process. Stratification must have cold, moist conditions and in some cases, followed by warmer conditions. Without the right conditions, some seeds will not germinate.

Even though sowing outside will give the seeds what they need but natural cold stratification can cause a loss of many seeds due to unreliable cold conditions and other factors. Sometimes plants will produce a lot of seeds at once for survival. Growing inside allows you to control the environment and germinate even more seeds.

Planting a Tree

Woman Planting a Tree

Growing Trees From Seeds Naturally

Walking through a local forest will convince you that seeds have been growing into trees practically since the beginning of time without any help from people. The best way to germinate seeds is to let nature do it the natural way. Sown in the fall or autumn, most seeds will start to germinate during the following spring. Autumn planting is done outside sometimes directly in the ground but usually in containers before temperatures fall below 8° C/45° F.

The Best Practices

Pots, Buckets And Boxes: Sow the seeds in plastic nursery containers or buckets then blend with potting soil. Place the containers outside away from wind but where they will get direct sunlight. You do not have to be concerned about cold, snow, or freezing weather as that's what seeds need to soften their outer coat and germinate in the spring.

To protect from birds and animals, cover the container with wire netting. Check the container regularly and water when needed.

When the seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them into trays or small pots and then place them in the greenhouse for protection. Later on, plant them wherever you want them. This is the best method for large seedlings such as walnuts, oaks, and chestnuts. Keep in mind, that these seeds do not store well and will become less visible when they dry out. Sow them directly into deep containers where they will grow for most of the season.

Seedbeds Or Nursery Beds:

Seeds can be sowed in raised beds outside, especially seeds that are native to your area. Choose a sheltered area where you can build a windbreak or provide shading. You should consider building a wooden frame and raised bed to increase the soil level by 8 inches for better drainage.

Check to ensure the seedbed is clear of weeds. Seeds need fine-tilled soil that will hold moisture and contain small even particles. The tilled soil will provide good contact between the seeds and the soil so moisture can be absorbed. At this point, bring in rotted leaf mold that contains soil-born fungi that will help seedlings grow and increase the soil structure.

Keep the seedlings protected from birds and animals. Make sure the germinating seedlings do not dry out and cover them with leaves to prevent heaving.

Wrapping Tree in Tree Protection

Tree Tube Protection Install

Note - Heaving is caused by the formation of ice in the soil. This commonly happens during periods of freezing and thawing.

You can allow the seedlings to grow for a while in seedbeds then transplant them when they are ready.

Baby Evergreen Tree

Evergreen Tree Seedling

Direct Seeding

This method involves seeding out a large number of seeds in the area where the tree will grow.

Prepare the soil with plants that will improve the soil. Use grown plants that are green. After the soil is prepared, loosen the soil for sowing by allowing pigs to graze and dig the grown plants. Lastly, prepare the area for fruit trees.

Sow the plants by spreading and leaving pomace to ferment for approximately 4 to 5 weeks. During the fermenting process, germination inhibitors will break down and the trees will start to germinate.

Pomace is the dry or pulpy stuff in fruits or seeds. In most cases, it's pressed and extracted when creating juices.

During the natural process, the seeds will sprout and many will die off with only the best surviving. As trees grow in their intended places, they will naturally adapt to the soil as well as the climate. Later on, only choose the best plants for grafting. Be sure to transplant any plants that are growing too close together.