Frost protective trunk wrap. Effective as advertised?

[bovine421]

I recently purchased some Frost protective tree wrap when another Forum member made me aware of its use. To be prudent since I have so much emotionally invested in my trees I'm hoping this is as effective as advertised.Is this something that I could wrap on tree and leave it until the second week of March. I would like to make a regiment of after Thanksgiving holiday prepping all my trees for the duration of cold season until the middle of March. It is raining right now so would the trunk wrap cause any fungal issues with the graft Union after three and a half months of contact. Thank you for your replies in advance

Is this something that would be reusable or would I have to buy a fresh roll every year?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WS5RRJQ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[TonyinCC]

I used to use foam pipe insulation on trunks of my citrus trees when I lived near Charleston SC. Sort of like a pool noodle with a slit up the side. lots of people used it to insulate their well and water pipes in that area from freeze damage. It did not get waterlogged. It looks thicker than the stuff in your pic.

[Guanabanus]

Bovine, I never saw that, but I have used what TonyCC said.

[Galatians522]

Bovine, I have not seen that particular wrap, so I can't comment on how well it would work. What I have seen most frequently for freeze protection is the Tree T-pee that I mentioned in the other thread. It has to be used in combination with a microjet or it does not provide much protection. They leave them on year round for the first 3-4 years. Here is a link to the Frostproof Growers Supply that sells in bulk to local groves.

https://frostproof.com/tree-t-pees-1/

Below is a link to an article that should be a fairly accurate review of the t-pee since it is from the University of Florida not the inventor.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/media/crecifasufledu/extension/extension-publications/2016/2016_September_tpee.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj88N2NkL3tAhUwvFkKHRMiBNcQFjAFegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw315r8QYWfMvk4Mi4qxXBfe

[bovine421]

I really like what I've read so far on other websites about this product. I will use it as a first line of defense and use sand over the graft union as you also suggested if things get ugly like in the late 1980s. I have a stockpile of sand from past hurricanes.

[Galatians522]

Sounds like a plan; and a great way to use hurricane sand.  Please let us know how it works for you.

[TonyinCC]

You could also bury the trees completely or up to main scaffold branches short term in mulch or straw for up to a couple days if a once in a century freeze is predicted.... Not easy unless you have a tractor with loader and a big mulch pile or some straw bales and are willing to carefully dig it all out by hand afterwards. Burying them is feasible for a few trees but has its limits. I saw bananas reliably fruited in Charleston by someone who buried them a bit past where the leaves come out. He built cages around them, filled with straw several feet thick, removing it all between bad freezes and repeating several times a Winter. At least you can use the straw the next season as mulch so it is fairly practical. If you had enough small square bales you could build an igloo completely around and over a tree or two to protect it. There are lots of creative ways to zone push.

[Yorgos]

Bovine, I have not seen that particular wrap, so I can't comment on how well it would work. What I have seen most frequently for freeze protection is the Tree T-pee that I mentioned in the other thread. It has to be used in combination with a microjet or it does not provide much protection. They leave them on year round for the first 3-4 years. Here is a link to the Frostproof Growers Supply that sells in bulk to local groves.

https://frostproof.com/tree-t-pees-1/

Below is a link to an article that should be a fairly accurate review of the t-pee since it is from the University of Florida not the inventor.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/media/crecifasufledu/extension/extension-publications/2016/2016_September_tpee.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj88N2NkL3tAhUwvFkKHRMiBNcQFjAFegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw315r8QYWfMvk4Mi4qxXBfe

This looks like a good product but because they sell to commercial groves, you must buy at least 10 ($7.95 per t-pee) and the shipping was minimum $73 for the 10.   Anyway for 10 my bill would have come to over $150.  If you order 30 the shipping goes up to $120.  I am hoping they respond to my contact and get a more reasonable shipping rate.