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potted JMs wake up too early in garage, what to do?

vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Hi, I live in zone 5a Chicago area. This is the first winter that I winterize potted maples in an unheated garage. We are having an unusual winter with warm days in February(40-60's) and now back to normal cold temp (20-30's). Several of my maples have started to have new buds. What should do about them? Should I move them outside (day temp around 30 for the next few days then 40's ) and move them back to the garage at night when temp drop to the 20's?
Thanks for your help!
Vivian

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Comments (6)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
Buds are one thing.......fat, just about to open buds are another :-) JM's set their buds in fall after leaf drop so buds should be present all winter. If these buds are still tight, just leave your maples where they are until safe to bring outside. If the buds are staring to open and the leaves unfurling, then the plan to bring out during the day and back into protection at night is sound.

btw, I live in a mild winter climate - 40's and 50's with some colder periods - and all my containerized maples are still very firmly budded. I wouldn't expect to see the buds close to opening for another month at least.
David (N.E. Georgia, zone 8a)
7 years ago
Gardengal48. I'm not that far south of you, I'm in northeast Ga and I already have opened buds and also some leaves on several of my Japanese maples. It has been an unusually warm spring so far which has thrown everything way off. All mine are planted so I'm just hoping for the best. It's supposed to be rather cold the next couple of nights, mid to upper 20's.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
David, you are about as far south of me as one can get and still be in the US!! My location is further north than much of Maine! Other than being a bit wetter than normal, this has been a typical winter and early spring here and JM's won't leaf out until well into April.
David (N.E. Georgia, zone 8a)
7 years ago
For some reason Gardengal48 I was thinking you were from around Va., my mistake. Also I wasn't trying to be sarcastic or anything, just pointing out how things are here.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
No problem :-) It is often difficult for those in other areas of the US to understand just far north we are in comparison and yet still a very balmy winter climate. Most other zone 8&9 areas are pretty far south. It's all that water around us!!

ps. we are also not very likely to encounter late spring freezes, which many parts of the continental US can. We are approaching our average last frost date here and no sign of any more seriously cold weather. A light snowfall is still a possibility but it won't come (if it does at all) with cold temps.
vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
Original Author
7 years ago
Gardengal,

I checked my potted trees (20) in the garage again. ~ 13 are ok. 5-6 have tight buds, Aratama (10 yr old) has many buds and a few of them are close to be "Fat". So I will start to bring Aratama out of garage next week once we pass this winter storm. Others I won't do anything until weather is more consistently warmer.

Thanks for your help!

Vivian

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