FAQ

We usually have stock on hand to ship ^within a day of receiving your order.  Generally, orders of less than 1,000 units are shipped by FedEx from California. Deliveries to the West Coast should arrive within 3-4 working days, deliveries to the East Coast should arrive within 6-8 working days. Special arrangements can be made if you need your order in less time.

Orders of more than 1,000 units, depending on the height, are shipped by common carrier, usually within 2-3 working days of receiving your order. For orders of 1,000 units or more, call to arrange a shipping.

Grow tubes used on a vine should be installed after the last threat of spring frost and removed prior to fall or before the first frost to allow the plants to harden-off and go dormant for winter.

Note: Grow tubes are not intended to provide protection against frost and do not extend the normal growing season.

It’s very beneficial for your vine to be completely enclosed by the grow tube.  BLUE-X® Grow Tubes are engineered and manufactured to act like a greenhouse for each vine, they protect form chemical sprays and browse and excessive wind.  In addition, they also reduce labor costs as the grow tube trains the vine to emergence out the top of the grow tube and will be ready to be attached to your cordon/fruiting wire.  This saves time, labor & materials from having to make multiple passes through the vineyard to tie and train the vine to the cordon/fruiting wire.

There are certain things to consider when choosing a grow tube for your vines:

1) Training

We recommend using a grow tube that is at least 4” to 6” inches below the height of the first fruiting wire, (also called a cordon wire).  This will allow enough space between the vine emergence out the top of the tube and the first cordon wire, allowing you to tie off to the cordon without making too drastic or sharp of a bend.

2) Spraying

When considering using herbicides we recommend a minimum grow tube height of 24”- inches (600mm) or more to ensure effective spray protection.  Using a grow tube height shorter than 24” leaves very little room for human error, mechanical booms or hand sprayers when using any type of herbicides.

We understand that in some cases budget restraints may be an issue for some and that our 15”- inch tube is very budget priced and suited for some of these applications.  We recommend using weed mats or rolls to control surrounding herbaceous weeds in this situation.  If you choose to use herbicides, we recommend that you spray on days with very little to no wind.  Take your time and use extra care when spraying using any tube shorter than 24”- inches.

3) Grafted Orchard Trees

When it comes to grafted orchard trees, using a grow tube height that is at or below the graft union is recommended.

Assembly

• To assemble a BLUE-X® grow tube take a single sheet of blue plastic film (Part A), roll it up into approximately a 2” diameter cylinder and insert it into a blue-tinted poly sleeve (PART-B) which is open at both ends. The tensile strength of PET (Part-A) will form the tube when released inside of Part-B.
• Even up the ends of Part-A allowing a minimum of one-half inch (½”) of Part-B to extend above the top of the inner sheet (Part-A). This step must be completed prior to anchoring to a stake or any hole punches for ventilation.

NOTE: We recommend that you use a stake that is a minimum of one 1 foot longer than your grow tube height and staked the entire length of the tube.  This is necessary for the grow tube to perform correctly.  In some cases, longer stakes may be required depending on the soil conditions in your specific planting area.

When the grow tube is no longer needed it can be removed by slitting the poly sleeve (PART-B). Once removed, the poly sleeve (Part-B) can be recycled. The polyester film (Part-A) can then be stored (Flat) in a dry place out of the sunlight for reuse.  Replacement poly sleeves (Part-B) can be purchased separately for reuse with recycled (Part-A) on your next planting.  Replacement Poly Sleeves are available for a fraction of the cost of a new complete unit.  To purchase replacement Poly Sleeves (Part-B) Click here.

Grow tubes do not extend the normal or regular growing season and do not protect against frost.  Grow tubes should be removed prior to fall or before the first frost of the season to allow the vines to harden-off and go dormant for winter.

BLUE-X® grow tubes are designed to admit the proper amount of sunlight transmission to encourage rapid even root-to-shoot growth.

Blue light encourages vegetative growth.  BLUE-X® allows more blue light to your vines, it helps create strong root development in early stages of biological transition into the surrounding soils which in turn promotes diameter growth, resulting in stronger stems.  BLUE-X® blocks some of the harmful UV light from getting to your young vines.  BLUE-X® provides the perfect balance of blue and red light to penetrate the grow tube wall allowing your vines to bathe in the perfect growing conditions for strong, vigorous even root-to-shoot growth.  For more information on blue light Click Here.

To re-use, start by rolling the inner sheet (Part-A) the opposite direction it was rolled the previous season and installing a new Poly Sleeve following the directions printed on the Poly Sleeve.  Additional BLUE-X® Poly Sleeves (Part-B) can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of a complete new unit.  To purchase replacement Poly Sleeves (Part-B) Click here.

BLUE-X® grow tubes consist of two parts. (Part-A), is a post industrial recycled, transparent blue polyester film, (PET) (Poly Ethylene Terephthalate). This blue film admits more (PAR), (photosynthetically active radiation), than opaque polypropylene. PAR is the part of the light spectrum most used by plants.

Our Poly Sleeve (Part-B) is manufactured from environmentally sensitive (low-density polyethylene) (LDPE) and is #4 recyclable.  We only utilize virgin resins for our poly sleeve so there are no impurities, this allows our poly sleeve to maintain the perfect balance of sunlight penetration or opacity through the tube wall allowing consistent scattered light transmission to your vines.

BLUE-X® grow tubes are engineered to selectively transmit the perfect balance of light waves to your vines and orchard trees.  BLUE-X® performs like a small greenhouse on each vine or orchard tree.   Maintaining consistency in opacity and UV inhibitors is very important which is why we only utilize virgin resins in the production of BLUE-X® grow tubes.   Our virgin resins do not contain impurities that would otherwise cause the sleeve to photo-degrade prematurely or alter sunlight transmission.

BLUE-X® grow tubes are photo-degradable and not bio-degradable.  After multiple seasons (3 to 5 years) of use the grow tube will begin to degrade due to long term effects of the sun and environment.

BLUE-X® tree tubes have been helping growers to establish trees in rural and wild settings for almost 3 decades.  BLUE-X® has also been widely used to effectively establish urban trees for suburban and city yards, boulevards, and parks while still maintaining a relatively low cost with superior performance.

We usually have stock on hand to ship within a day of receiving your order.  Generally, orders of less than 1,000 units are shipped by FedEx from California. Deliveries to the West Coast should arrive within 3-4 working days, deliveries to the East Coast should arrive within 6-8 working days. Special arrangements can be made if you need your order in less time.

Orders of more than 1,000 units, depending on the height, are shipped by common carrier, usually within 2-3 working days of receiving your order. For orders of 1,000 units or more, call to arrange a shipping.

BLUE-X® tree tubes are designed to be like greenhouses for each tree, specifically designed and intended to protect and accelerate growth of small seedlings and direct-seeded plantings.  Using a taller BLUE-X® tree tube over a newly planted small seedling or sprouting tree can provide it the best chance to for a healthy, successful planting.  Utilizing a taller tree tube provides an ideal growing climate inside each tube with higher humidity and higher C02 levels helping accelerate growth at even rates.

Direct seeding with BLUE-X® can be the most effective way to establish new trees.  Direct seeding into the landscape of species like oak, walnut, chestnut and others that are “root dominant” offers valuable benefits to your tree.

Letting a seed root naturally allows undisturbed root development.  By utilizing the direct seeding method eliminates the transplanting process and avoiding any shock allowing the developing tree to establish biological transition of its roots system naturally into the surrounding soil.  This encourages rapid root growth and allows the natural progression for establishing your new tree.  This method can produce far superior trees with faster growth rates than potted or containerized trees.  Opting to go with direct seeding and the use of a BLUE-X® tree tube will increase your chances of establishing a stronger, healthier successful planting at accelerated growth rates.  To learn more about direct seeding, and seed collection and storage please Click Here.

There are many advantages to direct seeding:

1. Ability to collect & plant seed from local trees that you know are well adapted to your soil and climatic conditions. Planting nuts gathered from a local tree doesn’t guarantee your new tree will have the same advantages. You know the characteristics of the mother tree but do not know the source of the pollen or how the combined genes will manifest themselves, but it definitely gives a better chance of producing a superior tree as compared to buying containerized seedlings.
2. Root system develops naturally on site, with no transplant shock or disturbance. Direct seeded nuts often outgrow transplanted seedlings!
3. The satisfaction of playing a role in the natural process of regeneration.

BLUE-X® Tree Tubes (a.k.a. Treeshelters) shield planted nuts from animal damage, and create an ideal low-stress micro-climate for growth. It’s like giving every planted nut its own greenhouse of protection!

If your seedlings have side or lateral branches, we recommend that you remove them carefully using a sharp pruning shearer before installing the tree tube.  Do NOT bend side branches upward to squeeze or otherwise force them into the tree tube.  This can encourage narrow branch crotch angles that can cause weak branching and other issues as the tree matures.  After pruning the side or lateral branches, you should have what looks like a single “whip” remaining.  With the terminal leader intact installing the tree tube will be much easier as well as promote a taller, faster growing and straighter trunk as the seedling matures.

BLUE-X® Tree Tubes combine just the right blend of sunlight optimizing the color blend inside the tree tube along with a host of other features that provide your seedlings optimal growing conditions similar to a greenhouse.

Grow tubes 4ft and taller can be vented if needed for C0₂ re-charging and cross-flow venting to allow trees in colder climates to “harden-off” in preparation for normal dormancy.  In warmer climates for controlling temps and humidity inside the tube as well as C0₂ re-charging.  It’s easy to vent our standard solid wall tube with our staking and ventilation punch.  To learn more about our staking and ventilation punch Click Here.

Just as important as the grow tube is to the success and survival of your tree, the type of support stake you choose for the installation will play a large role in determining your chances for a successful planting.

Choose the right support stake for the job at hand!  We recommend going longer and heftier than you think you may need.  Depending on your budget you have several options available in most areas.  Below are a few suggestions for support staking options.

NOTE: We recommend that you use a stake that is a minimum of one 1 foot longer than your grow tube height and stake the entire length of the tube.  This is necessary for the grow tube to perform correctly.

Longer stakes may be required depending on the soil conditions in your specific area or planting site.  It’s preferable to use a stake that’s a bit longer than you may need.  Its far better to have too much then to be too short and risk having issues with your installation further down the road.

½” or ¾” Schedule 40 PVC – This option has become quite popular, very reasonable in price, and is available at most hardware and home improvement stores.  This option is also very flexible allowing the trunk to have more movement in the wind which will assist in developing stronger trunks.  PVC is also very easy to cut to your required lengths when utilizing the correct PVC cutting tool.  This option is possibly reusable depending how much-prolonged exposure to the sun they’ve received.  Use a bit of caution when reusing PVC support stakes, years of sun exposure can degrade PVC and cause it to become very brittle.

½” or ¾” EMT Electrical Conduit – This option is available at most hardware and home improvement stores in 10-foot lengths and pretty reasonable in price.  EMT is made of galvanized steel to prevent rust which makes this a good option for reuse.  EMT can also be cut pretty easily to required lengths needed for your planting.

1” X 1” Oak Stake – Wood support stakes can be a bit pricy depending on the size, type of wood, and the area you’re in.  Square support stakes have more surface area and typically are less likely to come loose when installed correctly.  If you choose to go with a wood support stake option we would recommend using oak or some other hard wood over pine or fir for longer term applications.  Availability and price of these will depend on the area you’re in and lengths required for your planting.

Rebar – Rebar is more expensive but it is defiantly unbreakable and reusable.  It is also available at most home improvement stores and can be cut to required lengths needed.

1” Bamboo – This option is quite popular as well and very reasonable in price.  However, for longer term plantings where you think the grow tube will be on for more than a few years we recommend “not” using this option.  Bamboo breaks down and degrades rather quickly when surrounded by organic material and could cause you unwanted repair issues or worse, the loss of your entire investment!  Utilizing one of the other options above will give you the best chance for a healthy successful planting and much less hassle for longer term plantings.

Recycling Pallet Wood – We have had quite a few customers over the years send us photos of their plantings and what they use for improvised materials.  Recycled Pallet Wood is readily available in most areas.  Pallet sizes available in your area will determine board lengths for support stakes.  This option is definitely more time consuming.  We encourage everyone to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Climate and soil conditions affect the life of the stakes. In general, the stakes last:

• Schedule 40 PVC: 3-5 years
• EMT Electrical Conduit 3-5 years
• Oak Heartwood: 1-3 years
• Bamboo: 1-2 years

With proper usage, BLUE-X® tree tubes should last 3-5 years in the field.

BLUE-X® tree tubes are intended to remain on the seedling/tree until they photo-degrade or the tree diameter fills the tube, whichever comes first. This allows the seedling to remain protected until it is big enough to survive on its own.  Keeping the tree tube on the tree will also protect it against deer browse (“buck-rub”) and any other browse as the tree continues to grow.   We also recommend that you do not reuse the tubes for the same reason as mentioned above.

BLUE-X® grow tubes consist of two parts. (Inner Sheet, Part-A), is a virgin post industrial recycled material that is fabricated from a transparent blue tinted polyester film (PET).

This blue film admits up to 100% more photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) than opaque polypropylene. PAR is the part of the light spectrum most used by plants.

Our Poly Sleeve (Part-B) is manufactured from environmentally sensitive low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and is #4 recyclable.  Maintaining consistency in opacity and UV inhibitors is very important which is why we only utilize virgin resins in the production of BLUE-X® grow tubes.  Our virgin resins do not contain impurities that would otherwise cause the sleeve to photo-degrade prematurely or alter sunlight transmission.  BLUE-X® grow tubes are engineered to selectively transmit the perfect balance of light waves to your trees and shrubs.  BLUE-X® performs like a small greenhouse on each tree.

BLUE-X® tree tubes are primarily intended for use with deciduous trees or broadleaf seedlings and shrubs.  Tree tubes are not typically recommended for conifers also referred to as evergreen trees.  Should you choose to, we do not recommend using any tube taller than 15 inches with a minimum diameter of 3.5 inches or larger for conifers.   For better growth and protection against deer browse of conifer trees, we highly recommend the use of weed mats, fertilizer packs & repellants.

For more information on our VisPore® weed mats, Click Here.

For more information on our VisPore® weed mats, Click Here.

Yes, all BLUE-X® tubes can be used on compound leaf plants and shrubs.

Support stakes are sold separately.  We recommend buying stakes locally regardless of what type or size of stake you choose.  Purchased in any sizable quantity, they can be quite cumbersome and heavy and very expensive to ship.  Getting your stakes locally can save you money and be less hassle in the end.  For more information on staking options Click Here.

Post installation maintenance for your BLUE-X® Tree Tube (“Tree Shelter”)

By choosing BLUE-X® you’ve taken an important step in the right direction to make sure your new planting is a successful one.  Your seedling is safe and sound inside the BLUE-X® tree tube (tree shelter) you installed so what comes next?  We recommended regular inspections that should focus on three elements of the planting; seedling growth, tree tube condition and weed competition.  Each of these elements require ongoing attention to make sure your investment of time, money and effort yields desired results.

1. Seedling growth – BLUE-X® tree tubes are designed to last for years until your trees are big enough to make it on their own. In the first season or two, leaves will grow inside the tree tube as the seedling grows. Please do not remove actively growing leaves – they are important to fuel the tree’s early growth and should be left to photosynthesize the sun’s energy. It is recommended however to remove any mouse nests that may be have been constructed during fall and winter and any leaf accumulation.

To keep your trees protected beyond the first growing season, do not remove BLUE-X® tree tubes until the tree stem inside has grown to the size of the tube diameter.

Waiting until the stem grows to the size of the tree tube diameter assures that your tree is “wind-firm” and ready to support itself entirely. Additionally, this allows the tube to protect the main trunk against damage from antler rub, gnawing rodents or mechanical injury. Once your trees outgrow the tree tube diameter the tubes should be collected and removed from the field.

2. Tree tube maintenance – It’s important to check the condition of your tree tubes regularly to make sure that they remain properly installed throughout their designed field life. Please check the following components to make sure all are in working order:
3. Support stakes –Your support stakes are critical to the success of any tree tube. Make sure all stakes are firmly positioned into the soil and haven’t been dislodged or damaged by animals, wayward ATV’s or frost heaving (in colder climates);
4. Tree tube attachment ties – Whatever type of tie you choose to use should be functioning properly and remain snug and secured. In the event that a tie has been chewed on, broken or otherwise rendered ineffective please replace immediately;
5. Tree tubes – As noted above, BLUE-X® tree tubes are designed for years of field life needed for your trees grow big enough to fend for themselves. Built tough to resist sun exposure and weed sprays, but animals and equipment can still cause damage to your tree tubes so be on the look-out for a tree tube that may be in need of repair.
6. Bird mesh – We recommend bird exclusion mesh installed be installed on tree tubes 4ft and taller. Bird excluding mesh tops are designed to be in place the first 1-2 seasons. When inspecting your site check to see that the mesh tops remain in place for tree tubes with small seedlings completely inside. Once the seedling grows near the tube top the mesh is not necessary and has fulfilled its purpose and can be removed.
7. Herbaceous weed competition – Herbaceous weeds steal light, water, and nutrients from your trees and provide cover for unwanted rodents. Every square foot of soil is capable of producing a limited amount of biomass growth. By keeping herbaceous weeds at bay, you allow all of that potential growth into your tree to optimize its growth and assure your new planting will survive and be a successful planting.

If BLUE-X® VisPore weed mats were part of your planting from the start, congratulations, your trees and shrubs are probably well on their way past the herbaceous weed competition. If you chose mechanical or chemical control methods instead, have no worries, BLUE-X® tree tubes are designed to safely shield your new seedlings from weed sprays and string trimmers, it may be time to re-apply or make preparations for the next round of weed control.

Assembly:

• To assemble a BLUE-X® grow tube take a single sheet of blue plastic film (Part A), roll it up into approximately a 2” diameter cylinder and insert it into a blue-tinted poly sleeve (PART-B) which is open at both ends. The tensile strength of PET (Part-A) will form the tube when released inside of Part-B.
• Even up the ends of Part-A allowing a minimum of one-half inch (½”) of Part-B to extend above the top of the inner sheet (Part-A). This step must be completed prior to anchoring to a stake or any hole punches for ventilation.

With the VisPore® in place, water can enter your seedling root zone two-ways; primarily through capillary action from soil to the side of the mat and partially through the weed mat from above. VisPore® weed mats keep herbaceous weeds at bay by utilizing Microfunnels®.  Over 400 Microfunnels® cover each square inch of a VisPore® weed mat. These tiny funnel-shaped holes block sunlight and weeds but allow water to pass through the mat and down into the soil. When very little rain falls, VisPore® traps moisture and protects it from evaporation caused by sunlight and wind.    The dimensions of the VisPore® Weed Mat are 3’ x 3’ x 2.5-mil thick. The VisPore® Weed Mat provides 9 square feet of weed control around each tree or seedling.  By utilizing VisPore® Weed Mats you will give your new tree or seedling a far better chance for accelerated growth, survival and a successful planting.

The mats are UV stabilized to block 99% of the light that control weeds for 3 years depending upon environmental factors including climate, elevation and sun/shade exposure.  Rapidly growing trees will likely create shade that increases the life of weeds mats requiring that you go back and remove the mats.   The weed mats should always be removed if the tree is growing large enough to reach sides of the slit area.

Feel free to cover your weed mat with mulch if you like, as it will not reduce the effectiveness of the mat.  Be sure to remove the weed mat after 4-6 years or if the tree is growing large enough to reach sides of the center slit area.

Herbaceous weeds and grasses steal valuable light, water and nutrients from your trees.  With only one application of a VisPore® weed mat you channel all of the potential biomass growth into your trees instead of sharing the nutrients with surrounding grasses and weeds.  No need to perform tiring and time consuming repeated grass mowing or chemical burn to nearby grasses!  You also eliminate windblown seeds from germinating at your seedling.

Generally, one staple is required for each weed mat corner and one to pin the center slit area closed. If used with a tree tube the center staple will not be required. For areas with steep slopes or high winds an additional staple on each side may be warranted.

Install VisPore® Tree Mats with the “shiny”, smooth side up, duller, “rougher” side down. They provide three years of weed control.

It is best to drop Nutri-Pak® fertilizer packets into the bottom of the planting hole at the time of planting.