Eight volunteers have removed the remaining plastic grow tubes from saplings planted by Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria in 2021, putting an end to what critics had called "Plastic Stonehenge" on a hillock in Brandymore Castle. To protect the tender, young trees and shrubs from browsing white-tail deer, nibbling rabbits, and other critters, the volunteers surrounded the saplings with wire cages supported by sturdy hardwood stakes supplied by Arlington County Parks and Recreation.

Recycled wire and salvaged stakes were used to protect several volunteer saplings so they will have a better chance of survival. 

White-tail deer not only eat the young plants but also rub their antlers on young tree trunks when the "velvet" on their antlers starts to itch. This permanently damages the bark and can allow pathogens to enter the living tissue of the tree. Deer-rubbed trees can die or have shortened lives, thwarting the natural regeneration of the forest. 

 

Author: Jo Allen
Published on: Oct 01, 2023, 4:07 AM