What do you do with your small trees/shrubs over winter?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

My 6' x 3' coldframe is ready. I'll keep my young broad-leafed evergreens in it.

Just have to throw some plastic over it yet. It's lined with chicken wire to keep rabbits out. When it's cold, the plastic will keep deer out. It's sitting on a two-layer 4"x4" wood base.

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Comments (10)

ilovemytrees
8 years ago
I wrap my little lilacs, that are the same size as your plants, in Jobes tree wrap, and then I close-pin burlap around each one, tightly. Neither voles, nor rabbits have gotten through. And hopefully neither will turkeys. :/

I really like what you've done. It's impressive. I wish I was handy like you and could do something like that.
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Huggorm
8 years ago
That's a really nice cage but the cold will not do any good for the tree roots. When in the ground it will protect from the worst cold and temperatures will even out a bit, but when plants are in pots the soil will freeze solid. You could try to cover the pots in leaves or something like that for some insulation.
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If you stored it in an unheated garage, yes. I've had young Heuchera plants, and other perennials, in 4" plastic pots survive the winter stored inside our garage. I use plastic baby pools to group all my stored plants... it makes adding moisture easier, and it keeps them off the concrete floor. I keep the garage closed all winter, opening the door as little as possible. In early spring, as the weather gets nicer, I open the garage door for periods of time during the day. I close it again before nightfall. The plants slowly come out of dormancy, and once frost isn't an issue any longer, I move the plants back outdoors. Or... you could plant the Heuchera in the garden before winter and protect it with a layer of mulch.
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I don't do anything to protect trees from frost, with one exception, that being very small plants that have not yet had a good strong growing season to get established. I am protecting one tree at the moment, a friend's 18" tall Eucommia ulmoides that was just about to break bud when the last few cold blasts (one down to 14 F and the other to 17 F) came through. It was planted last spring and only put on about four inches of growth. The species is hardy here but its foliage has shown some sensitivity to late spring and early fall freezes. With this new little one, I didn't want to chance it not having the energy reserves to grow a replacement set of leaves. What I am using is two 3 gal. plastic containers, the bottom cut out of one, and both lined with bubble wrap. Nested upside-down, they form a sort of teepee over the plant. So far this arrangement seems to have worked pretty well. There is a slight blackening on the edges of the tree's bud scales, but the buds overall remain plump and green. BTW Toronado, how did the Gum Bumelia tree do for you last season--the one Missouri Wildflowers sent you by mistake in place of the Nyssa you wanted?
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I think Zone 8? We have little microclimates within our area, but a few times we may get down to -10C. I am intrigued and tempted when I hear people grow m. figo outside and are pushing the limits. My uncle had quite a mature figo right by the house until finally one cold winter killed it. So I don't want to risk the heartache. I confess the main reason I use a ceramic pot is because they look nicer, haha. I don't worry that much about the pot being cold. My main concern is how dry the air is in the winter. I don't like a hot house, so my heat is not turned up very high (that heat register right by pot is closed off). But I still find I have to water my plants more carefully than in the summer. Of course, the plant is not as happy, might lose a few leaves but it always rebounds in the spring. The pot is 18" diameter across the top and 15" tall. The nursery pot was probably about 10" ? I transplanted into big pot thinking I would keep it in there long term so as to disturb as little as possible, especially when the plant is a bit hard to handle (big leaves, etc) Oh my gosh, mites! They are the bane of my existence. So annoying. My m. figo has finally stopped dropping leaves. Hope she is truly settling in and not just playing with me. Thanks for that link, bboy. Very excited to see Cistus might be able to ship up to me in Canada. I see the figo var. skinneriana is 'Zone 7' - hmmmmm... Maggie
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Dan, I'd keep it for at least a couple more weeks before deciding to pull it. Ours were flowering for what seemed forever (a couple of weeks) and even dropped a good number of blossoms with no sign of fruit and then from one day to the next there were suddenly a handful of tiny fruits forming and we've had the "big fruit bust out" starting only in the past week and a half. They are still flowering and fruit is still bursting forth. If the plant is healthy and flowering I'm betting you will soon be getting fruit on it!
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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
Original Author
8 years ago
The pots of seedlings will be dug down into the dirt. Then a layer of mulch over the soil. The plastic over the top is mainly protection from ice and dessicating winds. I think it gives them maybe an extra 1/2 zone protection.
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akamainegrower
8 years ago
You would probably be better off using frost protection fabric rather than plastic. 6x3 feet is very small and plastic , even white opaque plastic, will cause overheating and stagnant air within the enclosure. Fabric will allow for some air circulation while still protecting against wind and ice.
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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
Original Author
8 years ago
Coldframe is not airtight and is not in sun so I dont worry about overheating. Small rodents are another matter.
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indianagardengirl
8 years ago
Dave, you have given me serious ideas about a winter cover for my pond, as its a winter buffet for herons. I've been draping netting over it and then struggle to get in for the occasional maintenence issue. Thanks for that!
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hairmetal4ever
8 years ago
I throw all my fall leaves around the pots as mulch. Probably second best thing to being in the ground, and in my zone 7 climate is usually more than sufficient. Honestly, a lot would probably do fine without any mulch at all, but I don't like taking chances.
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bengz6westmd
8 years ago
indianagardengirl, I've had a blue heron that hung around my stream off and on even in mid-winter. Surprising as I thought they would migrate, but apparently if fish are available (and the water isn't completely frozen over), they'll hang around.
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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
Original Author
8 years ago
indianagardengirl - it's a lot of fun to build things with PVC. And easy.
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indianagardengirl
8 years ago
Thanks, all. I have an aerator that I throw in for winter so that will keep some area open. But once the plants die, and unless it freezes solid, the buffet is open. I look at the top of Dave's contraption and the wheels are turning.
0

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What do you do with your small trees/shrubs over winter?

Comments (10)

ilovemytrees

Huggorm

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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
Original Author

akamainegrower

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
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indianagardengirl

hairmetal4ever

bengz6westmd

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
Original Author

indianagardengirl

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What do you do with your small trees/shrubs over winter?

Comments (10)

ilovemytrees

Huggorm

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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7AOriginal Author

akamainegrower

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7AOriginal Author

indianagardengirl

hairmetal4ever

bengz6westmd

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7AOriginal Author

indianagardengirl

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GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
Original Author

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
Original Author

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
Original Author