TREE SHELTERS

Abstract: A tree shelter for a young tree (28) consists of a transparent or translucent tube (12) the lower end portion (14) of which is shaped to facilitate its being pushed into earth (16) and to allow the root (34) of the tree to develop. The tube consists of spaced apart walls (18 and 20) and has at least one line of weakness (26) extending along it whereby the growth of the tree can split the tube.

Description: TREE SHELTERS This invention relates to a tree shelter comprising an elongate tube of transparent or translucent material in one lower end portion of which the aerial part of a young tree may be positioned and towards the opposite end of which the aerial part of the young tree may grow within the tube. Tree shelters are now commonly employed to protect young trees from damage by, for example, wind or being eaten or trodden on by animals; and to provide a micro-climate which promotes tree growth. It is an object of the invention to make a tree shelter which requires less time, and reduces the number of operations required, to produce a satisfactory combination of the young tree planted in the earth with the tree shelter around it, aa compared with a conventional tree shelter, which requires a stake to be driven into the ground, the shelter to be positioned around the tree so that its end rests on the ground, and then the stake to be secured to the shelter with ties. According to the invention, the tree shelter is characterised in that said one end portion of the tube is shaped to facilitate its insertion into the ground and subsequently to allow development of the root of the tree. With such a construction, an additional stake and ties will in nearly all cases be unnecessary. Preferably, the .end portion is formed i h an end face lying in a plane which is skew to the axis of the tube, so as to provide both a blunt chisel point to the end of the tube and an open area defined by the end face which allows subsequent root development. The- end face of the other end of the tube is simply normal to the tube axis. Preferably again, the tube consists of an inner tubular wall and an outer tubular wall which is joined to the inner wall by webs which space the two walls apart. This enables the tube to be strong without having an excessive wall thickness; to be light in weight; and reduces the amount of material required. For convenience of storage and transportation the shelters may be manufactured as nesting sets, four being the optimum number constituting a set to give a good packing ratio at the same time as an acceptably small range of tube diameters. An example in accordance with the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows an elevation of a young tree planted in earth with a tree shelter around it and extending into the earth. The drawing shows a bare-rooted planting stock,, namely a young Oregon pine tree 28 having a length within the range 6 to 18 cm, and a stem 30, branches 32 and roots 34, some of the roots lying within the lower end portion 14 of a tree shelter according to the embodiment which comprises an elongate tube 12 of circular or square cross-section. It is possible to plant the young tree 28 in the earth 16 in the normal way, subsequently to pass the tube 12 over it, and then to push the portion 14 into the earth, firming the earth around the tube if necessary. Alternatively, it is possible firstly to place the young tree 28 in the tube 12 with the roots in the end portion 14; make a cylindrical hole in the earth 16 with a tool such as a dibber; withdraw the tool; and then to insert the young tree 24 and the end portion 14 of the tube into the hole, finally firming the earth around the portion 14. In both cases the insertion of the end portion 14 of the tube into the earth is facilitated by the shaping of the end portion 14, which extends to a lower level on the right-hand side than on the left-hand side, so that the tube appears to have a somewhat pointed end 24, as viewed from one side, as the drawing shows. In the illustrated case the lower end face 22 of the tube lies in a plane which is oblique (not perpendicular as in the case of the conventional tree shelter) with respect to the axis of the tube. The lower part of the end portion 14 is consequently open on its left side and its lower side to allow development of the root of the tree. The tube 12 is transparent or translucent and is made by extruding a plastics material, for example polyethylene, polypropylene or polycarbonate, and preferably a material which has been treated to render it degradable by ultra-violet radiation. The tube consists of an inner tubular wall 20 and an outer tubular wall 18 which is joined to the inner wall by webs (not shown), extending parallel to the axis of the tube, which space the two walls apart* The tree grows within the tube 12 towards its upper end, where the end face 36 lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the tube which has a flared mouth 10 to prevent the rim from damaging the leaves and branches of the young tree as it grows through the mouth. The tube 12 may be constructed to facilitate its being opened out or split apart by the growth of the tree. Thus there is a line of weakness 26 or two or more such lines, for example two opposite lines of weakness, extending along the tube 12. In the present case where the tube consists of two walls 18 and 20, one of them, preferably the wall 18, may have at least one slit extending through it over most or all of its length and between adjacent webs. In the case of a solid walled tube the line(s) of weakness may take the form of lines of reduced thickness; alternatively the wall of a single or double-walled tube may be provided with one or more cuts extending along part of the length of the tube. In the protected environment of the tube 12, the tree 28 will grow more quickly than in the open, and when it outgrows the shelter 10 will force it apart along the lines of weakness 26 so that growth is not restricted. Eventually the shelter 10 will disintegrate through the action of ultra-violet light and will not therefore litter the countryside. As the shelter 12 is thinner than conventional shelters, it is the better able to be self-supporting and allows the usual stake and tie arrangement to be dispensed with. Not only does the shelter of the present invention reduce the number of shelter components required to one but it also, by simplifying shelter installation and combining it with the planting step, greatly reduces the total labour required. If the young tree is delivered to the site in a container of earth or compost instead of being bare-rooted, it may be inserted in the tube 12 such that the bottom of the container is level with, or projects a little beyond, the pointed end 24 and the top of the container is, in the completed assembly, at a level at or near that of the surrounding earth. The tube 12 may have an internal width of 4.7 cm, and an external width of 5.0 cm. With such dimensions, the tube may be the innermost one of a plurality of tree shelters as shown in the drawing but of differing widths, for example four such tree shelters, in an assembly in which they are placed within one another, in order to save space during storage or transport. The outer tube may have an external width of 7.1 cm, for example, it being necessary to have only a very small clearance between members of the set. A tree shelter as described above protects the tree from damage by wind, or by being trodden on or knocked down or eaten by animals, such as rodents and other small mammals. A further advantage of the tree shelter according to the invention lies in the protection it affords to young trees against attack by Hylobius hylastes, which feeds on the shoots of young trees, especially on sites which have previously carried a crop of conifers. Known methods of protection include cotton mesh and "paper hats"; however the tree shelter according to the invention provides protection against H. hylastes besides affording the other advantages, including beneficial micro-climate, enumerated earlier. A yet further advantage of the tree shelter according to the present invention is that it may be used as a packaging for the young tree when it is being transported, for example from the nursery to the planting site.

Claims: CLAIMS : \ 1. A tree shelter comprising an elongate tube (12) of transparent or translucent material in one end portion (14) of which the aerial part of a young tree may be positioned end towards the opposite end (36) of which the aerial part of the young tree may grow within the tube, characterised in that said one end portion (14) is shaped to facilitate its insertion into the earth and subsequently to allow development of the root (34) of the tree. 2. A tree shelter according to claim 1 , characterised in that the wall of said one portion (14) of the tube (12) extends to a lower level on one side of the tube than on another side of the tube, whereby the tube appears to have a somewhat pointed end (24) as viewed in at least one elevation. 3. A tree shelter according to claim 2, characterised in that the tube (12) has a lower end face (22) which lies in a plane which is oblique with respect to the axis of the tube. 4. A tree shelter according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the tube (12) consists of an inner tubular wall (20) and an outer tubular wall (18) which is joined to the inner wall by webs which space the two walls apart. 5. A tree shelter according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the tube (!2) is constructed to facilitate its being opened out or split apart by the growth of the tree. 6. A tree shelter according to claim 5, characterised in that there is at least one line of weakness (26) extending along the tube (12). 7. A tree shelter according to claim 5, characterised in that there is at least one slit extending through the side of the tube (12) and at least part of the way along the tube. 8. A tree shelter according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the mouth (10) of said opposite end (36) of the tube (12) is flared or out-turned. 9. A tree shelter according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it is made of plastics material which has been treated to make it degradable by ultra¬ violet radiation. 10. A tree shelter according to any preceding claim and having a young tree received therein. 11. An assembly comprising a plurality of tree shelters each according to any preceding claim, of differing widths placed within one another.

Inventors: HURLSTONE GRAHAM FRANK, HURLSTONE, GRAHAM, FRANK
Applicants: TUBEX LTD, TUBEX LIMITED
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A01G13
IPC codes: A01G13