Netting and Tubing Options for Deer Control
Netting
There are several companies that make netting that can be used as a type of deer control. Most are also used to discourage birds and can be used as needed. If you have a short term, yet valuable crop such as grapes or fruit, this might be the best choice. Gempler's carries rolls of multi-purpose polythylene netting that can be used over crops to prootect against deer, birds, and small animals. It has small 3/4" x 1" aperture block that stop small birds while allowing air circulation. It won't rust or corrode and is resistant to UV breakdown.It is black and comes in various lenghts and widths.
Tubing
There are several different types of tubes or tubing to put around small trees or encase saplings to keep the deer from either eating them or rubbing against them doing damage. Some of these tubes are also used to prevent weed-eater damage or damage while shipping.
Tubex R Treeshelters surround saplings with a one piece plastic tube. The tubes are transparent, polypropylene tubes that are placed around the small trees at the time of planting. The polypropylene is treated with an ultraviolet inhibitor that keeps the tubes from breaking down in the sun. The tubes usually last seven to ten years. It is recommended that the tubes be supported by one wooden stake pounded into the ground next to the tube. The tubes come in two, three, four or five feet tall. Height used usually depends on the side of the seedling, deer presure, or snowfall. The warmth produced by the tubes and the sheltering factor help the new trees grow faster. TubexRTreeshelters can be found at
Tubex Source
The Tree Sentry is a unique and patented approach with a distinctive shape, material, and staking design. The Tree Sentry product is a wire cone that has 3 integral wire stakes built in. This tubing type shelter is also known by other names such as TreePee and Gardener's Grow Cone and is made entirely in the USA of domestic recycled and virgin materials. It was designed by a midwestern farmer Todd Friesner in Northwest Ohio.
To install the Tree Sentry, you just push the wires into the ground and pull the Browse mesh up around it. They sell a Browse Mesh extension for larger animals such as deer. The strengthening of the wind to harden up the sapling as the planting matures and extends beyond the 18" tall conical shelter and into the rigid browse mesh. This wind buffeting activity promotes a strong trunk in the sapling. Having a larger diameter at the base and tapered conical shape, the Tree Sentry with it's unique shape is wider than other shelters, allowing for lateral branching of the seedling - very important for many species. Tree Sentry's can be found at:
Tree Sentry Tubing
Tree Pro Miracle Tube and Tree Pro Shrub Protector are ventilated translucent shelters that fit over tree seedlings and shrubs. They attach to a stake with two straps. Both are designed to last at least four years. They are made from recycled plastic and contain a UV inhibitor. These Miracle tubes can be obtained from Southwest Badger at:
Southwest Badger Resource,Conservation, and Development Council
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