Protective tree tube, method, and revetment using tree contained in same

Abstract

A protective tree tube has an elongated hollow body that is made of a biodegradable material, and has holes formed in the wall of the tube. The tube can be filled, at a bottom portion, with drainage material, and on top of the drainage material a planting material can be provided in which the root ball of a tree is placed. Upon placing the protective tree tube with the tree into a planting hole, the protective tree tube ca be buried and thereafter the tree will commence forming new rootage and become established.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective tree tube, comprising:
 an elongated hollow body with a top end and a bottom end and a side wall between the top end and bottom end, the body comprised of a biodegradable material and having a plurality of holes formed in the body through the side wall;   a bottom cap covering the bottom end of the elongated hollow body and comprised of a biodegradable material, and having a plurality of drainage openings formed through the bottom cap;   a bottom retainer having a first portion that fits against an outer surface of the bottom cap, and a second portion depending from the first portion that extends at least partially around the side wall of the elongated hollow body; and   a plurality of fasteners coupling the bottom retainer to the bottom cap and the bottom end of the elongated hollow body, including a first plurality that pass through the first portion of the bottom retainer and the bottom cap, and a second plurality of fastener that pass through the second portion of the bottom retainer and the bottom end of the elongated hollow body.   
     
     
         2 . The protective tree tube of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a top cap covering the top end of the elongated hollow body and comprised of a biodegradable material, and having a plurality of ingress openings formed through the top cap;   a top retainer having a first portion that fits against an outer surface of the top cap, and a second portion depending from the first portion that extends at least partially around the sidewall of the elongated hollow body at the top end; and   a plurality of fasteners coupling the bottom retainer to the bottom cap and the bottom end of the elongated hollow body, including a first plurality that pass through the first portion of the bottom retainer and the bottom cap, and a second plurality of fastener that pass through the second portion of the bottom retainer and the bottom end of the elongated hollow body.   
     
     
         3 . The protective tree tube of  claim 2 , wherein the top cap comprises two members, each member being planar and sized and shaped to cover the top end of the elongated hollow body, and having a slot formed from an edge to a center of the respective member. 
     
     
         4 . The protective tree tube of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a top double wall portion at the top end of the elongated hollow body that extends downward from the top end and ends at a point above a midway point along the elongated hollow body;   a bottom double wall portion at the bottom end of the elongated hollow body that extends upward from the bottom end and ends at a point below the midway point along the elongated hollow body;   wherein the top and bottom double wall portions do not cover a middle portion of the elongated hollow body; and   a jute wrapping portion provided around the elongated hollow body at the middle portion of the elongated hollow body that is not covered by the top and bottom double wall portions.   
     
     
         5 . The protection tree tube of  claim 3 , wherein the bottom double wall portion has holes that correspond to holes in the elongated hollow body and the top double wall portion lacks holes. 
     
     
         6 . A protective tree tube, comprising:
 an elongated hollow tubular body with a top end and a bottom end and a side wall between the top end and bottom end, the body comprised of a biodegradable material and having a plurality of holes formed in the body through the side wall;   a bottom cap covering the bottom end of the elongated hollow body and comprised of a biodegradable material, and having a plurality of drainage openings formed through the bottom cap;   a top double wall portion at the top end of the elongated hollow body that extends downward from the top end and ends at a point above a midway point along the elongated hollow tubular body;   a bottom double wall portion at the bottom end of the elongated hollow tubular body that extends upward from the bottom end and ends at a point below the midway point along the elongated hollow body;   wherein the top and bottom double wall portions do not cover a middle portion of the elongated hollow body; and   a jute wrapping portion provided around the elongated hollow tubular body at the middle portion of the elongated hollow body that is not covered by the top and bottom double wall portions.   
     
     
         7 . The protective tree tube of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a bottom retainer having a first portion that fits against an outer surface of the bottom cap, and a second portion depending from the first portion that extends at least partially around the side wall of the elongated hollow body; and   at least one fastener coupling the bottom retainer to the bottom cap and the bottom end of the elongated hollow body, wherein the at least one fastener passes through the first portion of the bottom retainer and the bottom cap.   
     
     
         8 . The protective tree tube of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one additional fastener that passes through the second portion of the bottom retainer and the bottom end of the elongated hollow tubular body.