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.