Removing tree cages
- Thread starter Charman03
- Start date
Prof.Kent
5 year old buck +
I like the trees about 10-15 years old and tall enough that most of the tree is above 6' above ground so the deer cannot destroy the tree. See this video I made (which has been posted before). The trees had their cages removed two years before his video was made and most trees were about 10-13 years old and on M106 and MM111 rootstock.
Tree Spud
5 year old buck +
You might want to mention what the trees are?
g squared 23
5 year old buck +
When my lowest scaffold branch gets above my 5’ cage. I only have one 6-7 year tree that has made it that far. The rest are pretty far off, gonna be around the 10 year mark.
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Tree Spud
5 year old buck +
Really comes down to how many trees can you afford to loose, before your planting efforts cannot recover.
I have multiple had 2"-3" aspens that I was growing rubbed by one buck. I removed the protective wire and he destroyed enough of the cambium that in the next spring, 7 trees died.
The deer may not impact the upper crown, they can destroy the tree by attacking the trunk.
I have multiple had 2"-3" aspens that I was growing rubbed by one buck. I removed the protective wire and he destroyed enough of the cambium that in the next spring, 7 trees died.
The deer may not impact the upper crown, they can destroy the tree by attacking the trunk.
Diesel5610
5 year old buck +
As soon as the lowest scaffold branches are 5 feet I remove the bigger cage and place a smaller one made of cheaper wire around it just to keep the bucks from rubbing the trunk. 4-5 year mark seems to be an average.
Diesel5610
5 year old buck +
Just saw your picture, I would replace that cage with something to keep bucks from rubbing it now. Most of that tree is out of their reach unless that picture is misleading.
Charman03
5 year old buck +
I like that idea
Charman03
5 year old buck +
It’s pretty accurate, 4 trees are about that size, then several more are a year behind those.
Diesel5610
5 year old buck +
I see Prof. Kents video shows a few of his trees with a small cage around the trunk just bigger than the trunk, that is what I do with a height of 4-5'. The deer will rub an apple tree trunk no matter how big it gets here, we have a high deer density. I have had no issue losing any trees caging this way. I wish I could figure out a way to keep the bears off them, that is a source of damaged trees for me.
rocksnstumps
5 year old buck +
I don't base it so much on age but when the trees get to around the 3" dbh mark and like others when lower limbs are at the 5+ ft range. Used to use 6 in drain tile and later spray painted them white but now just go with a smaller cage that is not staked but keeps rubbing from happening. This is the same crab apple from about age 7 to 12 yrs
Appleman
5 year old buck +
Great looking trees but one word of advice. I will replace the corrugated drainage tile with Aluminum screening. The black tile is not an enclosed envelope and allows insect egg laying bores to develop. I have seen the same problem occur with tree tubes. Another problem with drainage tile is it holds in wetness and can cause damage to the cambium. I have said in a post before, so to let you know I have around 450 trees on my property and have used Aluminum screening to protect from bores, voles, and sunscald and had only 1 tree in 15 years lost because I failed to notice the screening had opened up due to growth and fell off. The one tree died due to vole damage.
chummer
5 year old buck +
Is it possible aluminum screen could retain enough moisture to harm the tree? My trees are packed in snow 5 months a year. I removed all the screen this spring because I didn’t like the ways the trunks looked compared to trees with no screen. It seemed like the trunks were always wet. I am wondering if it has lead to the deaths of chestnuts and liberties that really have no other cause of death.
In bear free areas I use 6' tall welded wire cages that are about 5' in diameter until I can get the lowest scaffold around 5' or so. That's typically around year 4-6 for me. I actually have a couple B118 Franklins that are big enough to remove the big cages this fall at year 3. I remove the big cages as early as possible so then I have an excuse to put that cage in a different area the following year for a new planting.
Once the big cages are removed I put a 4' tall section of welded wire around the trunk to prevent buck rub damage. I just use a small piece for that to create a trunk cage maybe 8" in diameter. That will stay on indefinitely. I also use aluminum screen around the trunk both with the big cages and also when I have the smaller trunk cage on.
Once the big cages are removed I put a 4' tall section of welded wire around the trunk to prevent buck rub damage. I just use a small piece for that to create a trunk cage maybe 8" in diameter. That will stay on indefinitely. I also use aluminum screen around the trunk both with the big cages and also when I have the smaller trunk cage on.
j-bird
Moderator
Once the tree has an appreciable crown and the lowest branch is above my 5' tall cages. I reduce the exclusion cage diameter down to roughly a little larger than the trunk diameter. I never remove the cage completely - asking for rubbing. They want to beat up a lower branch or two...that is fine....but leave my trunk alone! There are exceptions to every rule....but that is the general rule on my place.
