AU332952S - Split forestry tube with air pruning vents - Google Patents

Abstract

Side slits (vents) in tube to encourage development of air pruned radial roots. Tube splits in half to allow for the removal of the seedling. Taylored Air Pruned Tube. The forestry tube was designed approximately 30 years ago and has since been adopted by the horticultural industry as a common standard. It measures 120 x 50 x 50 mm solid sides and a vented base to allow for air pruning of the seedling roots. This product is often used to produce plants for potting-on into larger containers producing advanced/larger stock. Customers who are planting into streetscapes and parks often require this sized plant. However stock grown in this manner is often unstable in the larger containers. The Taylored Air Pruned Tube is designed to allow air pruning of the side growing (radial) seedling roots through slits in the side of the tube. This prevents the seedling from growing roots towards the base of the tube. The growth of the radial roots of the seedling is encouraged by air pruning from the slits in the side of the tube ensuring greater radial root development. When potted up into a larger container these seedlings develop into a plant with a much stronger and branched root system that is very stable in the container and establishes in the landscape at a faster rate. There are other systems and processes that have been developed by the industry to improve the quality of advanced/larger stock but none of these methods involve the use of the forestry tube. The Taylored Air Pruned Tube is constructed of 3 parts; two sides (split in half-refer to drawings/photos) and a separate base. This enables the seedling to removed easily for potting on into larger containers without damaging the root system of the seedling.