Maybe wrap some electrical tape around the tube and stake in two places , I've done that with a few of mine .Headed over to the farm today and had a couple tree tubes off their stakes. Didn't know if I should blame the recent storms, someone, or something. Luckily I caught one of the perps on trail cam. This is why we can't have nice things...
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I haven’t had any issues with conduit breaking (yet), but they definitely allow the zip ties to slide even when cinched down as tight as possible. I have around 150 or so tubes out, and that is one of my only real complaints. I had a handful demolished by raccoons tearing them down and chewing through them (guessing to get to wasp nests). That seems to occur in late fall for the most part.Thats one of the reasons I don't like conduit for stakes. I had a couple broke off over the years but I have put out a bunch of tubes but only use on oaks.
I have a handful of apples and pears at the house that I did just that with. Zero issues going that route besides a bit more investment. Also have 15 or so in tubes there that haven’t been touched. Little lower deer numbers at the house vs the farm.I have to use T posts and then I put about 3' diameter 5' utility fence around that wired to a t post as well for both the eating and destruction aspects.
I have done something similar but used remesh from menards, a few years ago the rolls were only like $110 and would do 10-11 trees.I have to use T posts and then I put about 3' diameter 5' utility fence around that wired to a t post as well for both the eating and destruction aspects.
I have tried tubing fruit trees and either I got mildew or I didn't like the way they grew.I fence all my fruit trees now but I may try a few again.
I have Tree Pro products - both the Miracle tubes, which come as a whole tube with air holes in the upper half as well as a light perforation that will split if tree trunk fills the tube; as well as the Tree Pro protector, which comes as a flat piece that use zip ties to hold closed and also have air holes punched in the upper half. I’ve been happy with the Miracle tubes, and satisfied with the Protectors - they seem to want to open up a bit in between the zip tie locations. The Miracle tubes go on much quicker. Might not be ideal down the road when the trees are bigger with branches above the tube, but I don’t get much inside the tube I’m needing to clean out (besides some leaves on very small trees and I can easily slide the tube up to clean so far). No mildew issues with either type.Plantra tree tube system seems to have most of these figure out. Tubes have holes in them for circulation. They have a perforated side to tear off of a tree, or tear as tree gets too big. Their stakes are fiberglass and flex to allow tree to not be too spindly.
I know nothing is perfect, but I have been very happy with the systems so far.