This is not supposed to happen!

[TNlandowner]

Testosterone raged bucks are not supposed to rip the tree tube off and rub a 4 year old Chestnut tree!

Dang it..... We even watered this beauty during the drought! I used tree pruning wound seal on the rub... maybe the tree won't die. Odds don't look good with so much bark missing. Maybe it will regrow a new main stem from below the wound.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Oh no! Thats just heartbreaking

 

[Ski]

That sucks. I had a 5yr old apple shredded last week, broke every branch off at the stem. There are thousands of saplings all over the property but the ones that get the abuse are the ones I planted

 

[TNlandowner]

"the ones that get the abuse are the ones I planted." I feel your pain and have made the same comment.

Did you use a tree tube? I have some apple trees protected with tree tubes and others with welded wire fence. All of our Chestnut trees have tubes. This was a first for us...

One thing makes me smile: I may have harvested the buck that did this damage

 

[Lt.Dan]

"the ones that get the abuse are the ones I planted." I feel your pain and have made the same comment.

Did you use a tree tube? I have some apple trees protected with tree tubes and others with welded wire fence. All of our Chestnut trees have tubes. This was a first for us...

One thing makes me smile: I may have harvested the buck that did this damage

Payback is a b*tch

 

[backyardtndeer]

Makes me think caging may be better when they get that size. Hope the tree somehow recovers.

 

[Tn_Va_Hunter]

The tree should be fine. Note when they get taller than the tube it's time to cage them and take off the tree tube.
From my personal experience with growing dunstans. Once I remove the tube they grow faster. You said your tree is 4 years old. Here are a couple example of my dunstans. These 2 trees are 6 years old. I have trees planted from anywhere 2-6 year old. I picked up and have about 920 stratifying right now. Sure hope I can get the majority to take.

 

[44 mag]

I have never removed the tubes but I might but I have had to cage all mine. If you go to tractor supply or anywhere for that matter and ask if they have any bent fence panels they will usually sell them for a discounted price. I use an old trailer tire to bend them in a loop. Works great.

 

[ULTRAMAG25]

Lol the motive is now apparent guys!

 

[TNlandowner]

Once I remove the tube they grow faster.

Interesting. I've always left the tubes on and allowed the tree to shed them as they grew in diameter.

 

[Tn_Va_Hunter]

Interesting. I've always left the tubes on and allowed the tree to shed them as they grew in diameter.

I also remove them so they become stronger. Letting the wind push them around helps take root. At least In my experience.
Same with my sawtooth oaks. Once they pop out of the top. I'll cage them.

 

[deerdills]

What length tube does everyone use… 4', 5', 6'…?

 

[Tn_Va_Hunter]

What length tube does everyone use… 4', 5', 6'…?

I have a mix of 4 and 5 footers