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Freegro® tree shelters have been designed from the 'ground up'. The basic design emerged from an in-depth study of tree protection/early growth enhancement requirements.It took into account all the factors associated with browse protection and growth acceleration: robustness, wind resistance, light transmission and other greenhouse micro-climate conditions, as well as operational considerations such as ease of installation, handling, shipping and storage. The basic Freegro® concept consists of a flexible, cylindrical, 'fabric sock' attached to two circular rims, both equipped with a friction-grip clip. It is shipped in a nested position and is easily installed over a pre-staked seedling. The nesting feature not only assures much faster installation, but also reduces shipping and handling costs. Freegro® tree shelters are flared at the top of the cylindrical fabric sock to ensure that leaders do not come into contact with the rigid rim. [top] Waxed boxes, 35 cm wide by 70 cm long by 18 cm high, contain 80 to 150 units, depending on the type of model and specific dimensions (shelter diameter and height vary according to each individual species and application requirements). Pallets can contain up to 4000 units. With shelters conveniently banded in stacks of 10, planter/installers can carry up to 100 units at a time, along with equal numbers of trees and stakes, depending on the dimensions and moisture content of the latter two. [top] Freegro® tree shelters use fabrics that are chosen primarily for their high UV resistance and strength, as well as light transmission and heat transfer properties. The basic material used is a high density polyethylene mesh. Mesh grids size range from open (5 mm x 5 mm) to extra-fine (>.25 mm x .25 mm). Open mesh models offer better windfirmness (less sail) while fine and extra-fine meshed models provide a micro-climate that accelerates seedling growth. Fabrics are selected according to the specific protection/growth requirements of each species to be protected/enhanced. [top] Freegro® tree shelters reduce the risk of disease and provide a micro-climate that promotes better stem caliper and hence more robust, windfirm trees. The lower rim acts as a 'foot' that provides additional windfirmness. On very windy sites, Freegro® tree shelters are designed to take an auxiliary support peg that cups over the outside of the lower rim/(foot), thereby greatly increasing stake stability. Probably the most valuable of the Freegro® features and attributes is its ease/rapidity of removal and reuse. It is very cost effective to remove, re-package, store and and then reuse Freegro® tree shelters. Fabric and supporting rims material have been carefully selected in order to withstand seven to nine years of UV radiation and weathering . On medium to good sites, this means the same protector can be used three to four times. Please see the Installation section for further information on the removal/reuse options. At the time of removal, Freegro® offers a special stem holder to ensure that growth accelerated trees are not damaged by wind or snow-press. In the case where reuse is not the goal, Freegro® tree shelters are designed so that protected trees can easily break out of the shelter at the end of the target protection/enhancement period. There is a breakpoint built into each rim. These breakpoints, combined with oxidation-related weakening of the rims and mechanical wind-on-plant pressures, prevents them from constricting the bole/stem of the plant at any time in the future. The fabric sock has only enough UV inhibitor to maintain structural integrity for the target protection/enhancement period. Its degradation allows the foliage to emerge from built-in breakpoints (seam and hem) at the same time as the rims are opening up at their breakpoints. [top] Summing up The Freegro® tree protection/growth enhancement system offers a high level of performance at a much lower overall price when one factors in shipping, handling, installation and reuse. [top] |
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