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DR. WALTER E. BEINEKE
Dr. Beineke is professor emeritus, Purdue University, and developer/inventor of the patented genetically
improved black walnut cultrivars.
He writes: "Flood plains are excellent sites for planting trees, especially black walnut. I planted 1200
black walnut and 200 oak trees in a small creek bottom and protected them with Miracle Tubes.
"A seven-inch rainfall upstream sent a torrent of water two to four-feet deep over the entire site.
Without the tubes, the trees would've been buried in debris, logs, mud, hay, etc. However, thanks to the Miracle
Tubes, the debris caught on the outside of the tubes and wrapped around them. The seedlings inside were still green
and happy.
"Out of 1400 tubes only eight right next to the creek were washed out."
OLSON'S TREE FARM
Henrietta and Malcolm Olson of OLSON'S TREE FARM are long-time users and researchers of tree
protection devices and methods.
They write: "...Tree Pro protectors worked much better than the [closed system] tube-type, not only
in the first and second year's survival rate, but also in the ease of opening them up in the fall to get new growth hardened
down for the upcoming winter.
Another advantage of the Tree Pro tube according to the Olson's is that they do not provide a
cozy home for rodents, unlike some other shelters. They report finding "...only one solitary mouse in the 80 Miracle
Tube shelters we installed. In the other shelters we used, we found that between 50 and 60% were infested with mice, most
with families of mice."
It is believed that the higher incidence of rodent infestation has to do with the cozier environment provided
by some protectors. Unvented protectors that are pressed down into the ground are the worst offenders in this regard because
they provide rodents with a warmer environment.
Malcolm and Henrietta have since replaced almost all of the tube-type protectors with Tree Pro
protectors.
The Walnut Family
According to the Olson's, "The walnut family (black, English, heartnut, etc.) do very poorly in standard
3 to 4 inch tubes, in which most will die. These nut trees with compound leaves need more space as they are just too crowded.
After a lot of discussion with Tree Pro about the problem, they now make special large flat roll-up perforated tubes
[called Super Wides] for walnuts.
"We have been assembling two regular flat roll-ups together and they do fine. On large potted, leafed-out
walnuts we have assembled three Tree Pros together. This of course costs more, but it's well worth it when planting a
$30 grafted tree."
A row of five-year old grafted heartnut trees protected by double-wide Tree Pro tree protectors.
"There are many problems with other, closed-type protectors, such as the one shown
above. They attract mice and cause die-back and promote tree mold. What's worse, even if you're lucky enough
to escape these problems, your tree could die anyway, like this cherry, strangled by the very device that was supposed to
protect it. That's why I use Tree Pro instead."
"By contrast Tree Pro protectors break open and fall off the tree when the tree gets large
enough to put pressure on the lockties. Notice the tree protector lying on the ground."
"This shows what happens when Tree Pro protectors are used. As the tree trunk puts pressure
on the lockties, they snap. The first to go are the ones lower on the trunk where the girth is greater. Eventually, in
another year or two, the top locktie will break and the protector will fall to the ground. Then I can pick it up and use it
elsewhere on a newly planted tree. It truly is a great product."
GENETICALLY IMPROVED BLACK WALNUT
Black Walnut is our most valuable native hardwood. A single log once sold for $90,000. Unfortunately, trees like that
are all but gone.
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| 15 month-old genetically improved black walnut tree |
Planting genetically superior cultivars has therefore become a very attractive investment. Since these trees are
so valuable, they deserve the best protection. That's why only Tree Pro products are approved
for use on these extraordinary trees.
JOHN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
John writes: "Last fall I purchased 12 sawtooth oaks from a friend and he included your Tree Pro tree protectors. Luckily
for me, he would not sell the trees without the protectors. The previous year I planted 24 trees and only three lived. This
year all 12 are in great shape and have shown a 250 to 300 percent size increase since planting! Unreal!. I will never plant
another tree without one!! Thank you!
AMERICAN CHESTNUT CO-OPERATIVE
The ACC writes: "This summer we used Tubex, Tree House and Tree Pro protectors. For ease of installation, checking the
seedlings' progress, opening up the tree shelter in the fall (to permit the seedling to harden off for the winter), and closing
it up again for winter protection, Tree Pro is the best designed tree shelter."
ANON
"I'd been looking for something like this to protect my flowers for longer than I care to remember. A friend recommended
Tree Pro and the rest, as they say, is history. I now lose less than a tenth of what I used to lose to rabbits, ground hogs,
raccoons, even deer. And when I want to put my little beauties on display I just loosen the ties and lift the Tree Pros off."
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