Bald cypress impulse buy

[Cajunrider]

As someone who had 17 bald cypress trees in my yard for 25 years, I would advise against them in the landscape. All is well the first 10-15 years, and then the knees make their appearance. They first come out as broomstick sized. Next come the wrist sized and, in the end, LEG sized. NOT good for the lawnmower. Nurseries may SAY they don't make knees, but don't buy into that.

My friends have to invest in those Roothogs to shave the knees. Every 3 months they have to shave those knees down.

 

[Joe Dupre']

My friends have to invest in those Roothogs to shave the knees. Every 3 months they have to shave those knees down.

Before I moved, I seriously considered getting one of those machines. With 17 bald cypress, my yard would have looked like a war zone with all the holes!

 

[Cajunrider]

Before I moved, I seriously considered getting one of those machines. With 17 bald cypress, my yard would have looked like a war zone with all the holes!

It is only $230 and is well worth it.

 

[Joe Dupre']

It is only $230 and is well worth it.

That's pretty reasonable. I was looking at a DR stump grinder type of machine.......$1400.

 

[Cajunrider]

That's pretty reasonable. I was looking at a DR stump grinder type of machine.......$1400.

 

[steves6684]

Thanks to everyone who provided the excellent advice previously. My 2 large $5 Bald Cypress trees seem to be doing well in morning sun. They greened up and seem relatively healthy, given their sketchy beginnings. They live in tubs with water up to about 1/3 the height of the grow pots and are watered daily. I also have two small bonsai forests of bald cypress (seedlings purchased last March) that are doing relatively well.

Am now beginning to think about keeping them (both the 10' large ones and the seedling forests) safe this winter. I am in Zone 8a, so winters here are relatively mild, with normal minimum temps in the 18- 22 degrees F range. We also get intermittent random warm days in Jan and Feb which can reach 65 (ish) degrees for a day or two. On the other end, we can also get random days (unusual but not unheard of) down around 10 degrees. Neither of the unusual highs or unusual lows generally last more than 2-3 days, and the temps normalize afterwards.

In my Internet reading most of the advice says keep them outside and let them freeze, and try to not allow them to break dormancy. In my area, that will not be possible without significant man made intervention. So-any advice on over-wintering in my generally warm climate is appreciated. I do not really want to a/c my garage for the b/c this upcoming winter!



I know this is very early to be asking about over-wintering in my area but I am a planner and very much like to know I have a workable plan in advance of the time to implement it. Thanks for your advice and patience.

 

[Cajunrider]

I would do zero overwintering in zone 8a.

 

[steves6684]

Thanks Canunrider!

 

[steves6684]

One more clarification to ask, Cajunrider..so do I continue to water them all winter, allowing the water to freeze around the roots during the cold snaps we have?

 

[Cajunrider]

One more clarification to ask, Cajunrider..so do I continue to water them all winter, allowing the water to freeze around the roots during the cold snaps we have?

For my BCs that will be in zone 7a, I plan to mulch them in and water them once a week to make sure the roots don’t dry out. As for the freeze, I won’t do anything. If it freezes, it freezes.

 

[steves6684]

For my BCs that will be in zone 7a, I plan to mulch them in and water them once a week to make sure the roots don’t dry out. As for the freeze, I won’t do anything. If it freezes, it freezes.

Wonderful! Thank you so much!!