Should I protect oak saplings?

[nateb440]

I always either cage or tube my fruit trees and chestnuts but am about to embark on a fairly large (by my experience) planting of around 100 oak seedlings. These will be planted in a recently thinned/hinged area on a ridge top. There is significant deer pressure. Question: should I tube these or will the deer leave them alone?

 

[ts_13]

I may be overruled, but I have not had much brows on my oaks. Others yes, but not oaks. Thats just what I have seen.

 

[scott44]

I always either cage or tube my fruit trees and chestnuts but am about to embark on a fairly large (by my experience) planting of around 100 oak seedlings. These will be planted in a recently thinned/hinged area on a ridge top. There is significant deer pressure. Question: should I tube these or will the deer leave them alone?

I would, I protect all my oaks I've planted. The first time I planted trees/shrubs 5yrs ago I didn't protect the shrubs and they ate them to the ground, it might not have been all deer doing the damage, rabbits, mice and voles have girdled some also so you have what looks like a good tree until you pull the grass back ans find it's been chewed all the way around at the base.

 

[Barndog56]

I would prote t them if it's not too much trouble. I have volunteer oaks growing that the deer don't touch, so i transplanted some into more advantageous locations. Of course they were browsed. Now I cage any that I move.

 

[Catscratch]

Native oak:

Planted Sawtooth:

Both browsed this winter. Both will make a bush at best.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[Catscratch]

I have to add that I'm always trying to find ways out of caging my trees. Nothing has worked yet.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[Tap]

Native oak:

Planted Sawtooth:

Both browsed this winter. Both will make a bush at best.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Isn't that the way it is? I see that with all kinds of different species. Natives go untouched and our "special" store-bought plants get eaten.

SW Pa

 

[Needmorebrush82]

If you were doing thousands at a time I can see not tubing them, but 100 is a pretty small number. My point is with only 100 being planted the loss of just a few starts to change things pretty quickly. Mice and rabbits will eat mine quicker than I can plant them if I don't tube them. I will plant 500+ a year that I tube and while the cost starts to add up, it sure is neat to see your back breaking work survive and thrive!

 

[Catscratch]

Isn't that the way it is? I see that with all kinds of different species. Natives go untouched and our "special" store-bought plants get eaten.

SW Pa

Lol, they do seem to seek out the new stuff. I guess I wouldn't plant it if it wasn't somehow better than what is already there.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[bwoods11]

I would say yes!!

Mine get browsed and ripped up by bucks. I've planted a lot and very few make it without damage.

Trying to cage most of the survivors... tubes can be good too

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Any oaks are very high on the browse list here. No cage - no tree. Stump shoots or planted seedlings .......... no protection = no tree. AND - we aren't overrun with deer.

 

[Catscratch]

Same sawtooth pictured earlier in the thread. They keep hammering it!

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[wiscwhip]

Please put a cage around that poor thing or just pull it up to put it out of its misery. LOL!;)

 

[Catscratch]

Please put a cage around that poor thing or just pull it up to put it out of its misery. LOL!;)

Sorry :)
This little guy is an experiment and serving a purpose. So far I can tell you that; a sawtooth planted in the middle of a mowed path, between two food plots, and with no protection... wait for it... will get hit hard!

So far the one's with cages are ok (no mice or rabbit damage even without screen).

So far the one's hidden in tall grass are ok.

And, the one's in tubes are ok.


Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk