tree caging question

[diamond hunter]

So Ive got a bunch of chestnut trees needing to be caged. Has any of you ever put 2 trees in one oval shaped cage? Would that crowd the trees too much?

 

[Hollar Hunter]

I space mine 20 to 25 feet

 

[TS_13]

Yeah, if you could put 2 in one cage they are too close together.

 

[diamond hunter]

I know they would be too close together my question is what would happen?Would I just have 2 underperforming trees? Ive seen persimmons close together and other trees in the woods close together,wouldnt the trees,planted in the middle of a field,about 2 feet apart and caged have a better chance of survival than 2 trees in the woods with no cage?Ive got 75 of these chestnuts and it wouldn't be the end of me to lose a couple,just wondering what Id end up with.

 

[TS_13]

I see, sorry. They would compete with each other for light water space etc, grow into each other, thus not benefiting either tree. It would be better to cage one and leave the other out than put two right beside each other. My opinion. Both would grow and produce, but just not be optimal.

 

[diamond hunter]

10-4,so one would be better than 2 at the end of the day?

 

[TS_13]

That is what I do. I would rather have one good healthy tree than 2 sub par. But maybe some else can chime in.

How are those plums doing?

 

[Hollar Hunter]

The amount of wire you would use to make your "oval" would probably be close to the same as wiring two individual trees. If its a bit more than I'd find it worth the extra couple bucks to have two individual healthy trees...

 

[diamond hunter]

The plums are doing fine. OK so Im going to go buy some more concrete wire or 2x4 wire.

 

[diamond hunter]

And thanks again for that great deal on thses trees btw.

 

[Football Hunter]

I know they would be too close together my question is what would happen?Would I just have 2 underperforming trees? Ive seen persimmons close together and other trees in the woods close together,wouldnt the trees,planted in the middle of a field,about 2 feet apart and caged have a better chance of survival than 2 trees in the woods with no cage?Ive got 75 of these chestnuts and it wouldn't be the end of me to lose a couple,just wondering what Id end up with.

If your planting them"in the woods",be very patient.

 

[Football Hunter]

I see, sorry. They would compete with each other for light water space etc, grow into each other, thus not benefiting either tree. It would be better to cage one and leave the other out than put two right beside each other. My opinion. Both would grow and produce, but just not be optimal.

I agree

 

[diamond hunter]

I haven't ever planted a tree at my place except in the open,what I was sayin was there are trees in the woods very close and many times,both are fine,in my case 3 sets of persimmons.Most of my oaks are 35-40 feet apart. What Im sayin is if I planted 2 trees close together out in the open,protected them,reduced the competition and just generally looked after them would they do ok.The answer is no,both would underperform.

 

[plinker22]

I applaud you for your long-term thinking.

 

[primos32]

I have some sawtooths I would like to cage. How big are the cages y'all use? Height and perimeter wise?

 

[diamond hunter]

I use 5',2x4 wire. I count 50 spaces and cut there although some may say that's too close,its what I do. I also use 4' wire and put it together and then put the whole shebang on the center of a bucket to raise it more. The space allows my fruit trees to drop and the deer can still get to the fruit(as well as me).I drill a hole in the edge of the bucket about 2 inches up the side to drain water. The remaining water holds the bucket down and helps with weed control and when I fertilize,I add it to the bucket. The stuff dissolves and only feeds the tree when there is a lot of rain. Some people on here and QDMA forum use concrete wire.I don't use it cause its a PITA and deer browse it hard unless the cage is real big. I will prob replace some of my apple tree cages with concrete wire to pick some apples to eat,maybe some plums too.

 

[BamaProud]

We always cage them individually. I would think they would be too close to use 1 big cage...and you would probably use as much or more fencing as you would for 2 cages in the end.