When and What after Grow Tubes?

[Belo]

I'm on year 2 of using grow tubes to plant persimmons, chestnuts and oaks. Most have done well with basic weed maintenance and spraying. I skipped weed mats as I only have about 15 or so total.

Last year I had deer eat the top off one of my chestnuts and this year found a new broken branch on a 2nd year oak that is poking through. At what point do you take the tube off? I would probably cage after the tube is off, but looking for recommendations. I've attached some pics below of trees that are in year 2, a few that are in year 1 as well as a chestnut that was planted from pots and caged.

 

[Catscratch]

I'd say it's time to cage them. Be careful if you have much wind. The top wire of the cage will rub the bark off those whips if they blow around much and aren't staked.

 

[ksJoe]

I was hoping to leave tubes on to discourage rubbing, thinking the trees would grow out the top (above easy reach of the deer) and then just grow fine. Does this not work?

 

[T-Max]

I have caged trees with the tubes still on. They did fine for me. The trunk rubbing on the top of the cage did get me on a few like Cat said.