Department of 

Agriculture 

Forest Service 

Northeastern Forest 

Experiment Station 

Research Paper NE-672 

Development of Red Oak 

Seedlings Using Plastic 

Shelters on Hardwood Sites 

in West Virginia 

H. Clay Smith 
The Author 

H. CLAY SMITH is Project Leader of research on the growth and culture of central 

Appalachian hardwoods at the Northeastern Station's Timber and Watershed 

Laboratory, Parsons, West Virginia. He received degrees from West Virginia 

University and Purdue University and has been engaged in timber management 

research with the USDA Forest Service since 1962. 

Manuscript received for publication 7 December 1992 

Abstract 

Plastic shelters were used to grow red oak seedlings on good-to-excellent 

Appalachian hardwood growing sites in north central West Virginia. Preliminary 

results indicate that shelters have the potential to stimulate development of red oak 

seedling height growth, especially if height growth continues once the seedling tops 

are above the 5-foot-tall shelters. 

The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication is for the information 

and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official 

andorssrnsnt or approval by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Forest 

Service of any product or service to the exclusion oi others the: may be suitable. 

Pesticide Precautionary Statement 

This publication reports research involving pesticides. It does not contain 

recommendations for their use, nor does it imply that the uses discussed here have 

been registered. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate State and1 

or Federal agencies before they can be recommended. 

CAUTION: Pesticides can be injurious to humans, domestic animals, desirable 

plants, and fish or other wildlife--if they are not handled or applied properly. Use all 

pesticides selectively and carefully. Follow recommended practices for the disposal 

of surplus pesticides and pesticide containers. 

Northeastern Forest Experiment Station 

5 Radnor Corporate Center 

100 Matsonford Road, Suite MO 

P.O. Box 6775 

Radnor, Pennsylvank 19087-4585 

April 1993 
Introduction 

During the 1980's, plastic shelters were used in Europe to 

protect forest seedlings (Morrow 1988; Potter 1988; Tuley 

1983, 1985). Shelters protect seedlings from deer and small 

mammal damage and provide seedlings with a greenhouselike environment by increasing temperature and humidity 

inside the shelter. There is also a higher level of carbon 

dioxide within the shelter; thus, seedlings should produce 

more food for growth (Mayhead and Jones 1991). In recent 

years, the use of shelters has increased drastically in the 

Eastern United States. 

Information discussed in this paper is based on preliminary 

results from research designed to understand how the 

shelters might work with northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) 

growing on good-to-excellent Appalachian hardwood sites (red 

oak site index 70 and above). A major forest management 

objective on these sites is the establishment and development 

of a specific species such as northern red oak. 

Study Area 

The studies reported in this paper were done on the Fernow 

Experimental Forest located near Parsons, West Virginia. 

The Fernow is a 4,700-acre forest, outdoor laboratory, that 

was established for forest research purposes in 1934. It is 

located on the Monongahela National Forest and maintained 

by staff from the Timber and Watershed Laboratory of the 

Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. Appalachian 

hardwoods dominate the species composition including a 

mixture of oaks, yellow-poplar, black cherry, sweet birch, 

beech, maples, and birch. Current stands are primarily 

second growth resulting from logging during 1905 to 191 1. 

Average annual precipitation on the Fernow is approximately 

55 inches with 120 to 140 frost-free days during the growing 

season. Site productivity ranges from red oak site index 60 to 

80. During 1991, the growing season was uncharacteristically 

dry on the Fernow. The average annual precipitation for April 

to September is 35.7 inches, but for 1991, it was 23.3 inches. 

Methods 

From I988 to 1991, red oak seedlings and acorns were 

planted on five different sites. Shelters were used to protect 

the seedlings. All shelters were 5-foot-tall circular plastic 

tubes manufactured by Tubex. Someshelters were white but 

most were brown. Shelters were installed on both natural and 

planted red oak seedlings. Two kinds of planted bare-root red 

oak seedlings were used: the typical 2-0 seedlings purchased 

directly from a commercial nursery and special 2-0 seedlings 

that were root-pruned during early August of the first year in 

the seedbed (Fig. 1). Roots were pruned at this early age to 

minimize the characteristic taproot and develop a more 

fibrous root system (Johnson, et al. 1986). Also, in addition to 

the seedlings, stratified red oak acorns were planted in the 

spring and protected with shelters. At this time, acorn 

information is availabyor only one growing season. 

.A 

Figure 1 .-Special 2-0 red oak seedlings where roots were 

pruned in early August during first year in the seedbed. 

During study installation, seedlings were planted and 

shelters installed as a separate operation. Normally shelters 

were installed at ground line and pushed slightly into the soil 

by hand. Soil was then placed around the base of the shelter 

to minimize the risk of an air draft that could result in seedling 

mortality. Most of the shelters were attached to a wooden 

5-foot white oak pointed stake that was driven into the ground 

about 1 foot. The top of the wooden stake was near the top of 

the plastic tie on the shelter. 

Most seedlings were planted or selected (naturals) at least 25 

feet apart to allow for the future application of herbicides to 

control competing vegetation if necessary. In ail situations, 

comparison seedlings of the same age were used for control 

purposes (no shelters installed). For the planted, stratified 

acorns, one or two acorns were buried at a soil depth of about 

1.5 to 2.0 inches. Shelters were then installed as previously 

discussed. Also shelters were installed with the bottom of the 

shelter 8 inches under the soil. This was done for the purpose 

of protecting the acorns from rodent predation and so on. 

Finally, stratified acorns were planted but shelters were not 

installed. 

Testing for significance was done at the 0.01-percent level 

using Chi-square and analysis of variance techniques and 

Tukey's test for multiple comparison purposes. 
Results and Discussion 

Because five small-scale studies were done, for the purpose 

of clarity, it was decided to include specific methodology 

within the results and discussion section. Likewise, sites 

that had better results are discussed first. 

Site 1 

Seedlings planted on a new clearcut area. During March 

1991, all trees 1.0 inch d.b.h. and larger were removed from 

a clearcut area. Special 2-0 root-pruned red oak seedlings 

were planted. Initially the seedlings averaged about 1.5 feet 

tall before planting and all were at least 0.5 inch in diameter 

at the root collar (Table 1). All seedlings were top pruned 

before being lifted from the seedbed. Brown 5-foot-tall 

shelters were installed on 80 seedlings, and white shelters 

were installed on another 80 seedlings. A total of 40 

seedlings were used as controls where no shelters were 

installed. For the brown shelters, 37 percent of the terminal 

shoot tips were even or above the top of a 5-foot-tall shelter 

after one growing season. Similarly, this was 45 percent for 

seedlings in the white shelters (Fig. 2). For the 160 

seedlings in plastic shelters, survival was nearly 100 

percent after 1 year (one seedling died). For the 40 control 

seedlings with no shelters, seven died (Table 1). 

At the end of the first growing season, average height 

growth for seedlings with brown or white shelters was about 

2.5 feet (Table 1). Seedlings without shelters had no 

additional height growth. All seedlings without shelters were 

severely browsed by deer. It is important that the oak 

seedlings get a quick start on the competing vegetation. In 

most situations, it is desirable for all seedlings to be as tall 

or taller than the 5-foot-tall shelter at the end of the first 

growing season. 

Figure 2.-Special 2-0 root-pruned red oak seedling above 

the top of 5-foot-tall shelter after the first growing season. 

Seedling was 1.5 feet tall when planted. 

Table I .--Survival and height growth of red oak seedlings with and without shelters planted in new clearcut area after 

one growing season. 

- - 

Initial Survival first year Initial Height first year, feet 

Treatment number , Number Percenta height Height Growth Range 

Control 40 33 82a 1.5 1.4 -0.la 0.4-1.9 

Brown Shelters 80 79 99b 1.5 3.9 2.4b 1.8-6.4 

White Shelters 80 80 100b 1.4 4.1 2.7b 1.8-6.7 - 

aTreatment means with similar cdumn letters were not significantly different at the 0.01-percent level of testing. 
Table 2.-Survival and height growth of special 2-0 red oak seedlings planted in a 1-year-old clearcut after one 

growing season. 

- Initial Survival first year Initial Height first year, feet 

Treatment number Number Percenta height Height Growth Range 

Control 40 40 1 OOaa 1.4 2.0 0.6aa 1.2-3.2 

ControllCut-off 40 39 98a 1.4 1.4 O.Oa 0.7-2.4 

Shelter 40 40 100b 1.4 3.4 2.0b 1.3-6.2 

ShelterlCut-off 40 40 100b 1.4 3.0 1.6b 1 .O-5.2 

alreatment means with similar column letters were not significantly different at the 0.01-percent level of testing. 

bSeedlings top cut off to a height of 4.0 inches above the ground. 

Site 2 

Seedlings planted on a 1-year-old clearcut area. For another 

study area, special 2-0 red oak seedlings were planted 

during the spring of 1991, 1 year after clearcutting, A total of 

40 seedlings were used for each treatment. The four 

seedling treatments were as follow: seedling with no shelter; 

seedling with brown shelter; seedling top cut off with no 

shelter; and seedling top cut off with brown shelter installed. 

For the cut-off treatments, after planting, each seedling top 

was cut off leaving a stem 4 inches above the ground. 

After one growing season with shelters (2 years after 

clearcutting), only five shelter seedlings (12.5 percent) were 

as tall or taller than the 5-foot-tall shelter, and, similarly, 

only four (10 percent) of the shelterltop cut-off seedlings 

were as tall or taller than the 5-foot shelter (Table 2). 

Although the shelters protected the seedlings and 

undoubtedly had a positive effect on height growth, there 

was a major increase in competition from vegetation during 

the second growing season after clearcutting. The portion of 

seedlings at the top or above the 5-foot-tall shelters is low 

compared to results of planting immediately after 

clearcutting. It should be noted that all planted seedlings in 

this instance were from the same nursery seedbed. The 

only difference between planting areas is a slightly lower 

site index (however, all sites were red oak site index (SI) 80) 

and the flush of competing vegetation the second year after 

clearcutting. By the end of the second growing season, 

many of the first-year shelters were partially shaded by 

vegetation. 

Site 3 

Acorns and seedlings planted on a 1.5-year-old clearcut. 

During the 1991 spring season, stratified red oak acorns 

were planted in a clearcut area that was 1.5 years old. 

These acorns were planted during late April, and brown 

shelters installed within 2 days after planting. A total of 30 

samples were used for each of six treatments. The 

treatments were as follow: 

1. Control (no shelter) with 1 acorn; 

2. Control (no shelter) with 2 acorns; 

3. Shelter (normal installation with 1 acorn); 

4. Shelter (normal installation with 2 acorns); 

5. Shelter (deep installation with 1 acorn); 

6. Shelter (deep installation with 2 acorns). 

All acorns were planted at a soil depth of between 1.5 to 2.0 

inches. Acorns for the control treatments were not protected 

from predation. Shelters were installed two ways: normal 

with the base of the shelter at groundline, and deep where 

the base of the shelter was placed at a soil depth of 8 

inches in an effort to control the rodents. Data after the first 

growing season are summarized in Table 3. 

About 3 weeks after planting the acorns, many sf the 

control acorns were gone. However, there was quick acorn 

germination and seedling development response inside the 

shelters. All shelters had at least one germinated oak 

seedling. Many of the seedlings were at least 6 inches tall 

and results at that point were very encouraging. However, 

as the 1991 summer became drier and the competing 

vegetation shaded the sides of the shelters, the germinated 

acorn seedlings, though alive, were not responding. As 

indicated in Table 3, survival at the end of the first growing 

season was 92 percent for all the acorns with shelters 

(1 101120). Height growth after the first growing season was 

not satisfactory (less than 1 foot) and many of the seedlings 

had dead tops. However, germination of the acorns and 

early seedling height growth were impressive. 

Also, with the spring 1991 acorn planting in the 1.5-year-old 

clearcut, 30 special 2-0 root-pruned, bare-root red oak 

seedlings were planted. Within 2 days after the late April 

planting, a shelter was installed on each seedling. We 

wanted to compare the acorn seedling development to the 

2-0 bare-root seedling development in this 1.5-year-old 

clearcut. The average initial height of these planted 2-0 

seedlings was 1.4 feet and at the end of the first growing 

season, the 30 seedlings averaged 2.8 feet tall with heights 

ranging from 1.2 to 4.9 feet. Only one planted seedling was 

at the top of the 5-foot-tall shelter. On this same area, shelters 

were also installed on 10 natural red oak seedlings (age 
Table 3.-Survival and height growth of red oak acorns planted in a 1 .!5-year-old clearcut, after one growing season. 

Initial Survival first year Height first year, feet 

Treatment number Number Percent Growth Range 

Control 30 0 

Control (2) 30 1 

Shelter (N-l)b 30 30 

Shelter (N-2) 30 26c 

Shelter (D-l)d 30 26 

Shelter (D-2) 30 28C 

aNumbers in parentheses refer to the number of acorns planted initially. 

bNormal shelter installation with one acorn. 

CAt least one seedling established in the shelter. 

dDeep shelter where base is 8 inches underground. 

Table 4.-Survival and height growth of special 2-0 red oak seedlings planted on an excellent hardwood site that was 

clearcut in July-early August of the previous year, by the first and second year. 

Survival 

Initial First year Second year Initial 

Treatment number Number Number Percent - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Control 41 41 39 95aa 0.9 

Control/cutsffb 33 35 33 85ab 0.9 

Shelter 39 39 39 1 OOa 1 .O 

Shelterlcut-offb 41 34 32 78b 1 .O 

Height feet 

First Second Two-year 

year year growth 

1.2 1 .8aa 0.9 

0.7 1.8a 0.9 

1.8 3.9b 2.9 

1.2 3.0b 2.0 

aTreatment means with similar column letters were not significantly different at the 0.91-percent level of testing. 

bSeedlings top cut off at groundline immediately before installing plastic shelters. 

unknown). Initial heights of the natural seedlings were 1.1 

feet. At the end of the first growing season, the 10 seedlings 

averaged 2.4 feet tall, ranging from 1.6 to 3.9 feet. None of 

these natural seedlings were out the top of the 5-foot-tall 

shelters. As indicated, the competing vegetation and the 

drought were the main reasons for lack of height growth. 

Site 4 

Seedlings planted on a 7.5-yearr-old clearcut. Some shelters 

have been installed on the "special" planted red oak 

seedlings for 2 years. These seedlings were planted in 

spring 1990 on excellent hardwood growing sites that were 

clearcut during July to early August before the spring 

planting. There were four treatments with approximately 40 

seedlings per treatment. Treatments included seedlings 

with and without shelters and seedlings cut off at groundline 

with and without shelters. Data results are summarized in 

Table 4. 

Some of the planted seedlings with shelters did reasonably 

well (approximately 1 foot in height growth) after the first 

year. In fact, from our past experience (Wendel 1980), we did 

not anticipate much of a heightgrowth response. However, 

at the end of the first growing season, no seedlings were 

above or near the top of the 5-foot-tall shelter. 

After the second year, about 38 percent (15139) of these 

planted seedlings were as tall or taller than the shelter. A 

couple of the seedlings were 6 feet or taller. For cut-off 

seedlings with shelters, only 12 percent (5141) were as tall 

or above the shelters. At the end of the first growing 

season, the seedlings with shelters averaged 1.2 feet tall. 

The cut-off seedlings without shelters were 0.7 feet tall, no 

practical difference. However, after the second growing 

season, the cutsff seedlings with plastic shelters averaged 

3 feet tall and the unprotected seedlings were 1.8 feet tall. 
Planted and natural seedlings on a new clearcut area. 

During the 1988-89 dormant season, a stand was clearcut 

on an excellent growing site (limestone soil). The following 

spring (1989), large 2-0 red oak seedlings from a commercial 

nursery were planted. These planted "carrot root" 

seedlings were at least 0.5 inch in diameter at the root 

collar (Fig. 1). At the same time, a good acorn crop 

occurred during the fall of 1988. This resulted in the 

establishment of natural seedlings on all sites throughout 

the local area. Thus, both planted and newly germinating 

natural red oak seedlings were treated. Planted seedlings 

were treated immediately, whereas most of the natural 

seedlings were at least 6 inches tall before the early May 

treatment. 

lnitial seedling treatments, singly and in combinations, 

included a control, black plastic mulch (4 mil) placed in a 

5-foot radius around the seedling, Velpar-L applied in an 

8-foot radius around each seedling including a 2-foot radius 

buffer, and installing plastic shelters. However, the shelters 

were not installed until late March before the start of the 

second growing season after planting. Likewise, Velpar-L 

was applied during late April of the second growing season 

too. Three-year treatment results for the planted seedlings 

are summarized in Table 5. 

There was an obvious seedling response after shelters 

(only) were installed on both the planted and natural 

seedlings (Tables 5 and 6). For the planted seedlings, 

height growth increased about a foot annually during the 

2-year measurement period after the shelters were installed 

(Table 5). For the natural seedlings (Table 6), height-growth 

increased 1.5 feet per year. The three remaining shelter 

treatments (plastic, Velpar, and Velpar-plastic) initially had 

only five seedlings per treatment. With so few samples, no 

statistical analyses were done. However, even with few 

samples, after 3 years, all treatment combinations that 

included a shelter averaged approximately 1.5 feet taller 

than the shelter-only treatment. 

Table 5.-Sunrival and height growth of planted commercial red oak seedlings, by first, second, and third year. 

Treatment 

lnitial 

number 

Control 

Plastic (P) 

Velpar (V) 

P-v 

Shelter (S) 

S-P 

S-v 

S-v-P 

Survival, number 

First Second Third 

year year year 

31 29 26 

10 7 7 

15 14 12 

14 12 12 

15 13 13 

5 5 5 

5 4 4 

5 4 4 

lnitial 

Height, feet 

First Second 

year year 

Third 

year 

3.2ba 

2.0a 

2.8b 

1.7a 

4.6~ 

5.9 

5.9 

6.0 

aTreatment means with similar column letters were not significantly different at the 0.01-percent level of testing. 

bPlastic shelters and Velpar treatments applied in late March and April, respectively, at the start of the second 

growing season. 

Table 6.-Survival and height growth of natural seedlings, by first, second, and third year. 

- - - - - - - - - - 

Survival, number Height, feet 

Initial First Second Third First Second Third 

Treatment number year year year Initial year year year 

Control 47 46 35 33 0.5 0.8 1.7 2.7aa 

Plastic (P) 16 16 12 11 0.5 0.9 1.6 2.5a 

Velpar (V) 17 17 17 17 0.5 0.8 1.3" 1.9b 

P-V 15 14 10 10 0.5 0.8 1.1 1.7b 

Shelter (S) 16 16 15 12 0.5 0.9 2.5" 4.3~ 

S-P 5 5 4 3 0.5 0.6 3.3 5.8 

S-V 5 5 5 5 0.5 1.2 4.8 6.4 

S-V-P 5 5 5 5 0.5 0.9 2.7 5.5 

aTreatment means with similar column letters were not significantly different at the 0.01-percent level of testing. 

"Plastic shelters and Velpar herbicide treatments applied in late March and April, respectively, before the start of the second 

growing season. 
Recommendations 

Overall, results indicate that using shelters has potential for 

stimulating red oak seedling development, but we are 

cautious about future recommendations, because all 

seedling stems are not above the top of a 5-foot-tall shelter 

in one growing season. Also, once above the shelter, these 

seedlings must continue to develop height growth to 

compete successfully with associate vegetation. 

Total conversion of Appalachian cove hardwood stands to 

oak is not the objective of the Fernow research. Instead, the 

primary objective is to retain red oak in the next stand. 

Establishing 15 to 20 oaks in a codominant crown class 

position in a 20-year-old even-aged stand would be a major 

accomplishment. Likewise, a similar comment could be 

made for perhaps other oaks, white ash, and black walnut. 

For oaks, artificial regeneration in forested sites should be 

considered because of the uncertainty of good-toexcellent 

(bumper) oak seed crops. Most natural seedlings present in 

a mature oak stand on the better growing sites are less than 

2 feet tall. A noncommercial shelterwood cut using 

herbicides has potential as a means of stimulating existing 

oak seedlings to develop without stimulating adverse 

competition from other vegetation such as yellow-poplar 

(Loftis 1990). 

This early research experience indicates that installing 

5-foot-tall plastic shelters increases early height growth of 

planted and natural red oak seedlings. Shelters have the 

potential for retaining red oak seedlings on the good-toexcellent Appalachian hardwood growing sites immediately 

following clearcutting, if these guidelines are followed: 

Use special root-pruned, 2-0 seedlings that are a 

minimum of 0.4 inch diameter at the root collar. 

When planting large seedlings, take care to dig a large 

planting hole. Roots should not be crammed into the 

hole because j-shaped root development can easily 

occur causing the seedling to grow slowly or die. 

Plant seedlings in the early spring immediately after 

clearcutting and install shelters immediately (within a 

day or two) after planting. 

Do not cut off seedling tops to less than 1.5 feet tall. 

Cutting off tops of seedlings at 4 and 6 inches from 

groundline has potential too. However, to date, the 

better Fernow results occurred using taller top-pruned 

seedlings or seedlings not top-pruned. 

Use existing advanced natural seedlings and install 

shelters before leafout during the spring immediately 

following a dormant season clearcutting. If red oak 

acorns germinate during the early spring after 

clearcutting, install a shelter on the small seedling. 

Although these germinating seedlings will have leaves, 

installing shelters early (until early-May on recently 

leafed out seedlings) will not kill the seedlings. 

However, the manufacturer of the shelters does not 

recommended installing shelters on seedlings that 

have leafed out. 

Use properly installed, 5-foot-tall shelters. This includes 

at least one annual maintenance check or more as 

necessary depending on vandalism, bear, groundhogs, 

deer, high wind, poor stakes, or installation procedures. 

Plant seedlings or acorns in the spring immediately 

following a dormant season cut and install a dfoot-tall 

plastic shelter immediately on each seedling or 

acorn&). This approach should help the planted 

seedlings-acorns get an early start on height-growfh 

development. Also, it is not a good practice to clearcut 

cove hardwood stands during the early part of the 

growing season when a good acorn seed crop is 

evident. Delay cutting until the seed-bearing oaks can 

produce mature acorns. Good-to-excellent red oak 

acorn seed crops are a rare occurrence in this locale. 

An herbicide treatment may be necessary to control 

competing vegetation. Although, at this point, it is uncertain 

if this treatment will always be necessary. Once above the 

tops of the shelters, some seedlings may continue 

accelerated height-growth response and compete 

successfully with the associate vegetation. 

Although seedling height growth was increased by using 

plastic mulch or herbicides to control the competing 

vegetation, the major response occurred when using plastic 

shelters. Hexazinone (Velpar-L) was used with a Pfootradius, nontreated buffer around each seedling; however, 

Velpar-L moves in the soil. A safer herbicide would be 

trichlopyr (Garlon 3A) or, in late summer, perhaps a 

glyphosate (Roundup) application. Seedlings in or above the 

shelters should be covered with a plastic baglrubber band 

until after the mistblowing spray job is complete. For the 

better Appalachian hardwood sites, an herbicide application 

may be desirable the third growing season after 

clearcutting. Competing vegetation is not too tall and often 

is not that difficult to work in at this stage. The competing 

vegetation would be reduced allowing the oak seedlings 

more time for development. Installing plastic shelters and 

then applying herbicide is expensive. Total cost for planting, 

installing shelters, and perhaps a necessary herbicide 

treatment will determine how many trees the landowner can 

afford to establish. 

Although there is much concern for the flush of competing 

vegetation during the second and third year after 

clearcutting, in areas where deer are numerous, this 

vegetation concern may be minimal to nonexistent. For this 

situation, installing shelters may have even greater potential. 

Our experience indicates that planting stratified acorns in 

the spring and immediately installing a shelter after the 

dormant-season clearcut has much potential in protecting 

acorns from predators. At this point, mammals have not been 

a problem in eating or pilfering the seed. However, if gypsy 

moths are present, larvae will rapidly defoliate young seedlings. 
There has been some discussion about removing the 

shelters once the seedlings are above the top of the shelter. 

We have not done this but understand the seedlings remain 

rigid. Some researchers indicate they can use the same 

shelter two or three times. No doubt a major cost savings. 

Currently to plant 30 seedlings per acre and install a 5-foottall shelter on each seedling, the cost is about $170.00 per 

acre (Smith 1993). This cost is based on the following rates: 

$4.50 for shelter and stake, two people installing 200 

shelters per day each at $7.00 per hour, and one person 

planting 200 seedlings per day at $7.00 per hour. Seedling 

cost is $0.60 each. 

We believe it is possible to get an acceptable number of red 

oak seedlings above the 5-foot-tall shelters 1 year after 

clearcutting good-to-excellent hardwood growing sites. 

However, we are uncertain how long this rapid height 

growth will continue or if the seedlings will continue to 

compete for dominance with the associate vegetation on 

better Appalachian hardwood growing sites. 

Literature Cited 

Johnson, Paul S.; Dale, Charles D.; Davidson, Kenneth R.; 

Law, Jay R. 1986. Planting northern red oak in the 

Missouri Ozarks: A prescription. Northern Journal of 

Applied Forestry. 3: 66-68. 

Loftis, David L. 1990. A shelterwood method for 

regenerating red oak in the Southern Appalachians. 

Forest Science. 36(4): 91 7-929. 

Mayhead, G.J.; Jones, D. 1991. Carbon dioxide 

concentrations within tree shelters. Quarterly Journal 

of Forestry. 85(4): 228232. 

Morrow, Dan. 1988. Tree shelters: silvicultural tool of the 

future for hardwood regeneration in the N~rtheast? 

In: Perkey, Arlyn, ed. Forest Management Update. (9): 

10-12. 

Potter, Mark J. 1988. Tree shelters improve survival and 

increase early growth rates. Journal of Forestry. 86(8): 

39-41. 

Smith, H. Clay. (In press.) Regenerating oaks in the 

central Appalachians. In: Proceedings, A symposium on 

oak regeneration; 1992 September 8-9; Knoxville, TN. 

Gen. Tech. Rep., Ashevilie, NC: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest 

Experiment Station. 

Tuley, G. 1983. Shelters improve the growing of young 

trees in the forest. Quarterly Journal of Forestry. 77(2): 

77-87. 

Tuley, G. 1985. The growth of young oak trees in 

shelters. Forestry. 58(2): 181 -1 95. 

Wendel, G. W. 1980. Growth and survival of planted 

northern red oak seedlings in West Virginia. Southern 

Journal of Applied Forestry. 4(1): 49-54. 
Smith, H. Clay. 1993. Development of red oak seedlings using plastic 

shelters on good-to-excellent hardwood sites in West Virginia. Res. 

Pap. NE-672. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 7 p. 

Plastic shelters were used to grow red oak seedlings on good-to-excellent 

Appalachian hardwood growing sites in north central West Virginia. 

Preliminary results indicate that shelters have the potential to stimulate 

development of red oak seedling height growth, especially if height growth 

continues once the seedling tops are above the 5-foot-tall shelters. 

ODC 232A76.1 

Keywords: artificial regeneration, red oak seedlings, plastic shelters, good-te 

excellent sites, Central Appalachian hardwoods. 
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