DCO quandary

[TxA&Mhunter]

So About 4 years ago i planted a ton of chestnuts and 10 DCO in a drainage spillway that leads in to a tank.

Theses trees were planted in mid south Texas and outside the nomral Range of the trees as an experiment...The chestnuts were 1-2 ft tall wheb planted and have been watered Most now sit 8 ft tall and we're in tree tubes and watered during first 4 years of establishment.

The 10 DCO were bareroot that we're 6inch to 10inches... and were planted and had a tpost put
Next to them.... But then Not watered or weed matted... bassicly left to live or die.. so at end of year two imchecked and we had 9 of 10 still alive...
So we sprayed gly around and put 5ft tube on (the only height we had)...

My problem... or question is 8-10 have lived and all are 5ft and thin Bc of tube.

So do we pull tube and cut backand cage or let them keep going out top of Tube? I know These things suppose to be shrubby trees... with 4 years of root system and no Watering in Texas summers
I Have imagine they ready to explode.

Any one have suggestions ?

 

[TreeDaddy]

FWIW

I planted 100 DCO bare root 12/14 in 5 ft combitubes

Survival ~15-20% that attributed to texas summer heat ,etc

Also 8-10 trees that survived started producing acorns 9/18!!

I left them all in tubes

Last winter I transplanted ~30 trees that i grew from seed over 2 growing seasons in my backyard

I caged them rather than tubed them .

They are "hanging on" in our harsh summer right now

Back to your question....... I would probably leave them in tubes to keep from having to stake them at this point

bill