Chestnut trees and tree tubes

[TNlandowner]

I planted 35 Dunstan chestnut tree seedlings in early February. All of them are now growing leaves. A few of the trees are already taller than the 4' tubes, but I'm concerned the tree tubes will hurt the shorter trees by constraining or injuring the large chestnut leaves.

Has anyone ever dealt with this issue?

 

[treefarmer]

I planted 10 Chinese Chestnut trees 3 years ago in tree tubes with ventilation holes. Most grew out the top and are fine. A couple had trouble getting out the top and I removed the tube because they had died back to the root. I have left the tubes on the tall ones to protect from rubbing deer. If you have any that can't get out the tube after a growing season I suggest removing the tube or cutting it short.

 

[TNlandowner]

Thanks Tree farmer. If they grow as much as they did last summer (2'-5'), all the trees should be above the tubes by fall. I am just worried the large size leaves would fill up the tubes and stunt the growth, or as you mentioned, kill the tree.

After growing and nurturing (almost daily) these trees from seeds, I plan to watch these trees very carefully.

 

[Hunter 257W]

My experience is not Chestnut tree specific but I've found it necessary to remove the tubes from some trees 1st thing in Spring to clean out old leaves and wasp nests. I didn't do this the 1st year so some trees got stunted from bassically sitting down in a dark tube one growing season. Once the tube is cleaned out and put back on though, the trees should start growing as well as ever. Some of the oaks I have fill the tube completely with leaves and it doesn't seem to hurt their growth at all during the warm months.