The baskets will not be a problem for the roots and will give the roots the protection when the tree is small enough to be killed by a few hungry gophers. A longer range solution I think is to become proficient as a gopher catcher but like womans work it is never over. Al

Acer, Sonds like you have learned some valuable lessons on freeze protection. Having gone through seven winters in my 6b/7a north GA zone, I've learned a few things myself. I have a small orchard and had only enough tarps for one tree, so I had to make a tough decision - who gets saved. I chose my Cox's Orange Pippin because after six years of growing, it finally put out a ton of blossoms. I looped together several small tarps to make one big enough to cover a ten foot high tree. Then I threw thick moving pads over the crown, actually one on the inside and one on the outside. I looped rope around the whole rig to tie it all down against the wind. I used woodworking spring clamps to close the gaps where the tarps were joined. I put a 600 watt double worklite laid on the ground and placed a digital max/min thermometer in the center of the crown on a branch and strung the probe out and attached to a pole about six feet off the ground. Results: 19 outside, 30 inside. I opened a flap during the day and the results: 45 outside, 71 inside, not to mention an intoxicating apple blossom smell when I got inside my little tent and stuck my head up in the canopy. My Spitzenberg suffered, along with the Gold Del, Gala, and Montmerency,s. But I've noticed the buds opening on the cherry and the Gala (which had flowered and petal-dropped), and they seem to be less damaged than I thought. We'll see. My pear grafting project remains to be determined, and my rasps suffered, but come hell or high water, I'm going to have some Pippin's this year! Herbert

Californian: Use the paint specified for interior use, whether it is vinyl, acrylic, or a combination of the two. I believe, but am not certain, that the interior stuff is vinyl latex. Dilute it by half with water before applying. Exterior grade paint is heavier, and contains chemicals to prevent mildew which are not good for trees. I don't know how you would orient a graft union in any direction, since it is 360 degrees around the scion. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

You have taken all the steps you can short of spraying to protect the fruits, excpet maybe putting paper bags over them.