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

7 years ago

last modified: 7 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
7 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.
Huggorm
7 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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Alison, my ninebark is about 4 1/2 ft. tall now - leaves are green (I was hoping it might be a Diablo, but I don't think it is), no flowers yet - maybe next year. Debbie, watch on the seed exchange, or wait til next year, LOL - I should have some seeds then, I hope - but no blooms this year, and no blooms, no seeds. As for more shrubs - this year I put in the ground - myrica pennsylvanica (bayberry - I've tried this before and it hasn't survived - maybe this time it will), thalictrum dipterocarpum, which is either a big perennial or a shrub (is there a difference?) and Carolina lupine (which I forget botanical name of right now). Keeping my fingers crossed!
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i will yell ... NOT IF YOUR GROUND FREEZES ... and i am pretty sure your probably does ... bunch of cliches .....dormant trees need little water ... dont confuse a dry surface.. with moisture at root depth ... and if soil frozen.. its not like you can dig little holes to find out ... roots need air as much as water .. and if frozen into an ice cube.. no air ... i am sure this would all be different in warmer climes where soil doesnt freeze .... lastly ... these dudes cant predict tomorrows weather.. i have little faith in long term predictions ... try to keep some perspective of all the chicken little weather predictions ... too many peeps put their hoses away .. when raking leaves in late october ... you should be CHECKING moisture thru thxgiving ... and if need be.. ON NEW TRANSPLANTS... give them a late drink ... THEN PUT THE HOSE AWAY ... again .. i would not be all that worried about long established plants ... in our zone ... and lastly.. again.. lol ... you can waste a lot of money.. cracking hoses in very cold weather ... probably more money than the plants you are trying to save ... its hard to wind up a hose for winter storage... when its 40 degrees out ... ken
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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
7 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.
akamainegrower
7 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.
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
Original Author
7 years ago
Coldframe is not airtight and is not in sun so I dont worry about overheating. Small rodents are another matter.
indianagardengirl
7 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!
hairmetal4ever
7 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.
bengz6westmd
7 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.
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
Original Author
7 years ago
indianagardengirl - it's a lot of fun to build things with PVC. And easy.
indianagardengirl
7 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.

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

hairmetal4ever

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