Yes, the bark needs some sunlight. It can get damp and moldy and hot inside that plastic tube, and the bark can get soft and start coming off. That's why I use chicken wire or window screen, and I put it on very loosely.

i used the same for 4 years on one inch oaks.... with no problems related to them ...

i went 4 feet from ground up ... just in case we got 4 feet of snow.. lol..

the worst problem i had.. was getting them off w/o scarring the bark ...

they are now.. 10 years later.. going on 20 to 30+ feet ...

i think you are overthinking it all ...

ken

Thanks Ken and Nurseryman. I will monitor.

This year they are gone for now, but watch in fall, them army worms/tent cattapillars hide inside these trunk protectors. Many years ago, I had a young oak with a trunk plastic wrap around thing, and after I removed it, there were a whole bunch of them army worms on the trunk with slimy stuff on the bark. I don't think the tree died, but can't say for sure it didn't, the site of it made me itchy.

I guess using a bug spray or BT as a preventative would solve that problem.