Thinkin Rut
PMA Member
Has anyone had any adverse effects on the root system pulling out T posts after your trees have broken out of the tubes or would a lesser stake work better?
You must have too good of soil where you are at in the loess hills , trees are growing too fast if that's possible. HahaI prefer T-post but only pound them into the ground as far as the T, don't put the T below the dirt so a root can't grow over it. I haven't had any issues, pulled probably 100 T-post off trees that were large enough to support themselves, none died so far!
I prefer a T-post over a round conduit pipe because once those trees get 6-9' tall and have a big canopy of leaves but aren't able to support themselves. That first storm rolls in with strong winds and the zip ties, tree tubes, and steaks have a lot of pressure to support without breaking. Gets harder as the tree gets bigger and sun breaks down the zip ties and tubes. A round conduit pipe never seems to be enough to support them, the trees always get leaned over it seems. Even happens with T-post but not nearly as often, at least in my experience.
Do you check all the tubes in the spring for mouse nests/girdle issues or do they seem like they stay free of those issues?