Frequently Asked Questions

In order to be able to transport efficiently, Tubex are nested with four or five differing diametres. The impacts of diametre in a tubes are minimal for the tree although large leaved species are best suited for the larger tube

If the support fails and the tube is leaning this should be dealt with as soon as possible as the tree will begin growing at an angle and could be subjected to browsing

Once the tube is no longer needed, a box cutter knife should be used to cut the tube from top to bottom enabling the tube to be removed from the tree.

Yes, all of Tubex products are manufactured at our site in Aberdare, Wales

The Tubex tube protects the plant from fungal attack while the plant is still inside the tube, especially if the spores are spread by wind. Once the plant emerges from the top of the tube it is again vulnerable to attack from wind borne spores.

If the tree already has an infestation of a pest such as Whooly Aphid when it comes from the nursery, then the Tubex tube can sometimes provide a safe environment for the pest to survive and where no insecticides and attack the pests. However, Tubex tubes do not encourage pests or diseases and in fact they positively protect the plant from wind-born spores such as Mildew.

In some very rare cases, birds can enter a tube and be unable to exit. Birds have been known to nest in tubes and where this is perceived as an issue, a net sock can be placed over the top of the tube until the tree emerges.

The ratio of root to shoot and also of height to diameter is sometimes affected when using very tall tubes. For example in a 1.5m tube, compared with a tree planted without a shelter, the tree inside the shelter can sometimes grow a little taller than would naturally occur given the diameter of the trunk, but this only happens whilst the tree is within the tube. As soon as the tree exits the shelter then the natural growth ratios return. If this is a concern then using ventilated shelters such as Combitube and Ventex will slow the growth of the tree/vine and actually enhance the root and stem growth beyond that achieved with no Tubex shelter.

Tree shelters allow wild animals to roam freely around the trees as they would in nature. Fencing keeps them out and limits their range. Tree shelters are therefore the prefered method of protection to maintain the freedom for deer and not force them into areas they do not usually go to.

Yes – this is not a problem. Once the snow starts to melt then because the inside of the tube gets a little warmer than outside, the snow will melt quicker. Up to that time there is little difference between snow inside and snow outside the tube.

The time span between investing in a new plantation and recovering some revenue from the crop, whether in fruit or timber, is reduced using Tubex as our tubes accelerate the growth. Therefore the investment return is speeded up. Also, maintenance operations such as weeding/replacing dead trees etc. is dramatically reduced by using Tubex guards. Finally, Tubex guards improve the shape or ‘form’ of the tree, so when it comes to trees grown for timber then using Tubex guards means greater value of timber can be secured from each tree.

Most hardwood tree species and also most vines thrive very well in Tubex tubes.

Different tree and shrub species prefer different types of tube, although most hardwood tree species in Europe respond to the benefits afforded by the environment in one form or another. Vines generally thrive in a tube. Check with Tubex for individual detail.

In ventilated tubes such as Tubex Ventex or Tubex Combitube, the tree benefits from a little ‘wind rocking’ which helps to strengthen the roots. It also helps to harden the bark of the stem and to reduce the temperature inside the shelter.

A solid tube, even with ventilation, creates a greenhouse effect and offers protection from herbicides and browsing. A net or mesh is purely a physical barrier to prevent browsing

Tubex shelters encourage vertical growth and reduce side branches within the tube. This gives a strong and straight stem to the tree, which is better for timber quality.

There is almost always an increase in temperature inside Tubex tubes (less so with ventilated tubes such as Combitube and Ventex) but our experience tells us that even in hot countries such as Spain, in most cases this is not enough to damage the tree or reduce growth rates. The increase is only around 2-6 degrees depending on conditions (wind etc.

Once the tree gets out of the top of the Tubex tube there is still a growth benefit – Tubex tubes reduce weeds and maintain moisture around the tree, so the tree continues to grow more strongly if using Tubex.

Yes, the 60 or 75cm solid tubes are beneficial for a conifer to protect against mice and rabbits.

If the support fails and the tube is leaning this should be dealt with as soon as possible as the tree will begin growing at an angle and could be subjected to browsing

Once the tube is no longer needed, a box cutter knife should be used to cut the tube from top to bottom enabling the tube to be removed from the tree.

Once the tree emerges from the top of the tube the growth benefit is reducing but the tree is still protected from browsing by mice, rabbits, hares and deer. The tube should remain on the tree until such time as the threat is minimal bearing in mnd deer can rub agaisnt tree stems from several years after estsablishment

Tubex are photodegradable and in time will breakdown in direct sunlight. Storage in shade is prefered until use.

Tubex should be supported by a high quality stake to suit the height of the tube. Generally 32mm x 32mm or 30mm round are normal treated with approved protection. Stake timber species can be softwood or untreated hardwood like oak or Accacia.

Tubex are suitable for exposed sites with a high quality support stake. Combitube and Ventex as well as Treeguard products are suggested as the air is able to flow through the tube more easily and the tree inside gets used to being rocked by the wind

Most hardwood tree species and also most vines thrive very well in Tubex tubes.

Yes – this is not a problem. Once the snow starts to melt then because the inside of the tube gets a little warmer than outside, the snow will melt quicker. Up to that time there is little difference between snow inside and snow outside the tube.

Wraps are really used when there are large branches and also roots which mean it would be impossible to place a solid tube over the tree. Also, where growers/farmers need to gain access to the plant to remove small side shoots (such as with vines) then the wrap is easier. If neither of these factors are present then using a solid guard is mostly the best option as it is very secure from animal and herbicide damage.

Tubex have chosen the optimum colour for light transmission and also to ‘blend into’ the natural surroundings. In theory it is possible to use other colours but green seems best to us, although brown can offer certain advantages – please ask for details.

In ventilated tubes such as Tubex Ventex or Tubex Combitube, the tree benefits from a little ‘wind rocking’ which helps to strengthen the roots. It also helps to harden the bark of the stem and to reduce the temperature inside the shelter.

A solid tube, even with ventilation, creates a greenhouse effect and offers protection from herbicides and browsing. A net or mesh is purely a physical barrier to prevent browsing

Yes, both plastics types polypropylene and polyethelene are widely recycled as well as the nylon ties. We just launch the new Tubex Collection and Recycling Programme, with the creation of this programme we hope to be able to offer a simple and effective solution to close the loop and ensure responsible disposal is within reach for everyone.

The Treeguard range of net products are made from 100% recycled polyethelene, which can be recycled again after use.

Tubex tubes are photodegradable, meaning they breakdown in sunlight. Ultimately, the tubes would break apart in situ but it is suggested that they are removed before this happens. We are developing a compostable solution to be launched in the upcomming months.

Nowadays, most of Tubex tubes are made from polypropylene, which stays in situ during the service life and can be removed in its entirity to be recycled leaving no trace or contamination. We just launch the Tubex Collection and Recycle programme to to offer a simple and effective solution to close the loop and ensure responsible disposal is within reach for everyone. Already, our standard tree shelters contain up to 30% of recycled content and our netting solutions contain up to 85%, our goal is that by the end of 2022 our tree shelters will be manufactured 100% out of recycled plastic.

As well we are working to develop a fully compostable at field solution.

Generally we anticipate the collection scheme will run during the summer months (April to September) outside of the tree planting season. 

35-60kg depending upon the type of Tubex product and how efficiently they are filled.​

Once the used tubes are at the recycling plant, the tubes will be clean up and transformed into PP pellets. Tubex will collect those and use for the fabrication of new tree shelters or send to another Berry business, who will use the PP pellets as raw material for its manufacturing.

The Tubex standard tree shelters already contain up to 30% of recycled polymer and the Tubex netting up to 85%. Our objective is that Tubex Standard tree shelters will be manufactured with 100% recycled content as soon as we have enough availability of recycled PP

The tree shelters are high grade recyclate and even after 8-10 years in the field nearly all of the tree shelter will turn into finished rPP polymer.

The sacks of tubes are then compressed into much tighter bails to ensure we can make the process as efficient as possible. They product is washed, shredded, dried and then processed into rPP pellets.

You should only use dedicated Tubex dumpy sacks, it helps Tubex calculate the quantity of material available for recycling. These sacks come with the collection program logo on it. You can place your order of the required bulky sacks via one of the 4 distributors signed up to the recycling scheme

Each customer is responsible to collect their tubes and fill the dedicated bulky sacks with them. Once the sacks are full, Tubex will collect and then store them in distributor’s warehouse.  Tubex will collect and transport the sacks to the recycling plant.

Tubex is responsible to organise collection and transport from customer’s store to distributor’s warehouse, and afterwards to the recycling plant.

The minimum order quantity is currently 12 bulk bags, each bag can hold about 350 standard Tubex tree shelters, each sack needs to be full for Tubex to collect those. (MOQ is therefore approximately 4,200 standard 1.2m long Tree shelters)​

All Tubex tree shelters can be added to the collection bags. All that we ask is that you remove the nylon zip ties and the wooden stake. We cannot accept competitor tubes and the sack will be refused if these are found in the dumpy sacks. This is due to the fact that we do not know which polymers are used in these products and they could have very negative impacts at the recycling plant (PVC for example).

We tried to build a simple but effective process to collect the used tree shelters, to offer the best solution to Tubex customers and end-users. This process consists in 5 steps:

1. Place your regular tree-shelters order, and set them up as usual. To participate in the Tubex Collection Program you will need dedicated bulky sacks for the collection of the tree shelters. You can now place an order for bulk sacks as well; how
2. Once the tree is ready, remove the tree shelter and fill the dedicated bulk sacks with the used Tubex tree shelters, once the bag is full please advice us so we can pick it up for you.
3. Tubex will collect the sacks and take them back to the distributor’s store. Once we full lorry load of tubes in bulky bags, Tubex will organise transport and collection from distributor, and take the tubes to the recycling plant.
4. Once at the recycling plant, the tubes will be washed and clean out and afterwards recycled into PP pellets.
5. Recycled PP pellets are going to be re-used in Tubex products or to other Berry Business

The programme is currently only available in the UK

The Tubex tree shelter collection program will be available from Autumn 2020. Currently is only available in the UK

Any Tubex distributor or end-user, in the UK, can be part of the program. To be able to join please contact your sales representative or send an email to sales@tubex.com, and place your order for the required number of dumpy sacks.

The Tubex Tree Shelter collection program is an initiative of Tubex, a brand of Berry Global, which aims to address the issues of plastic waste; the objective of this programme is to offer a simple and effective solution to our stakeholders that allows closing the loop and ensuring a responsible disposable of our products.

The programme is based on the collection of used tree shelters, we will provide dumpy sacks that once full of used tubes will be collected and transferred to a recycling plant, where they will be washed and afterwards recycled into PP pellets. Then the PP pellets will be re-used in Tubex products or other Berry business.

The programme is currently only available in the UK.