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deer protection for oak seedlings #875272

Asked June 29, 2024, 4:26 PM EDT

Courtesy of the squirrels, I have several two year old white oak seedlings that I would like to keep but they need protection from browsing deer. They are outgrowing my wire cages in both height and spread so I am looking for other options. I have noticed seedlings often grown in "tree tubes" where the tube is taller than the plant. The plant must have also been trimmed so they fit in the tube and all the growth is directed upwards. I am looking for guidance if a tree tube is a good option. The only thing I found so far was info from the tube manufacturers. Any thoughts on other options would also be appreciated. My concern is not rutting but deer browsing on the new growth.

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

The oaks will need protection for about a decade (especially in winter) so I recommend a more long lasting solution. Use 6-8 ft farm posts. Theses are the green ones that are very solid and have notches for wire and are at Menards or Home Depot etc. Use wire mesh for an enclosure. Make a circle large enough so deer can’t reach the ends of the branches because deer are very found of the fresh growth at  the ends of branches.
Limbing up the seedlings so they will fit in a tube is going to reduce photosynthesis and the storage of the food it needs to grow. 
https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/ecssilviculture/tipsheets/tipsheet_12.pdf

http://www.crawfordconservation.com/assets/pdf/ProtectingYourSeedlingsfromDeerandRabbits.pdf
https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/NE/Nebraska_Forestry_Tech_Note_72(Reducing_Deer_Browse_Damage).pdf

Evelyn Locke, MN Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor, Volunteer Replied June 30, 2024, 10:37 AM EDT

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