They’re saying this should be as cold as it gets for awhile Here near the twin cities. I hope so.
Just not in pots
. Full disclosure... I allow my trees to freeze solid every winter and don't mind if they stay that way for weeks or months, and I've routinely stated that overwintering deaths are most likely due to the deceased tree entering dormancy in a weakened state. Still, winter cold in some locales definitely can cause tree damage or worse. My back yard warmed all the way up to 10 F today but will be well below 0 F tomorrow and we probably won't see 20 F for a week, and some of my best trees are sitting out there, frozen solid all while sitting on a concrete block patio. Still, they're out of the sun and wind (mostly) and are mulched and have snow pushed up against them. Even without the snow, their placement and mulch would be enough. Still, less than ideal overwintering placement +/- once in a decade cold may smack you and your trees in the mouth if you are unlucky.
Oh, I understand that life in a pot is very different from life in the ground. I just figure a good rule of thumb is assume you lose one full growing zone on each end of the tree's normal range once it's in a pot. Example: if a tree normally thrives in zones 5 through 8, putting it in a pot makes it 6 and 7 assuming you do next to nothing to protect it.Just not in pots
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I should have added that, in my opinion, the KISS axiom to overwintering trees should apply but often isn't followed. Bonsai hobbyists are way too prone to overwintering trees inside- be that in a garage, basement, shed, etc., rather than outside in a protected area- on the north side of a house, shed, fence, etc.,- mulched and with a natural (landscape planting) or constructed (stacked hay bales or staked burlap) windbreak. Getting your cold hardy trees through the winter inside requires lots of effort and oversight and if you're not diligent in your care, you may end up with trees braking dormancy several months too early or dead trees that dried out at some point. My trees outside on the patio are in the "set it and forget it" mode because once they're placed in their overwintering spot and mulched in, I really don't do anything with them until it's warm enough to move them back out on the benches in March or April. I will periodically water (or place snow on top of the mulch there) the trees right up against the walls of my house because the eaves of my house are extremely deep and theoretically could dry out because they won't receive natural precipitation. Still, if the mulch freezes and stays that way, the most I'll do is add snow when available.
Lol I have that book, don't recall that table. The other page where all the pines are is what I need to look at. Will definitely do that after dinner here. Thanks
I hear this argument a lot. I always go back to Michael Hagedorn’s Bonsai Heresy, chapter 13. Here, he presents an argument backed by a university research study (albeit unpublished) and the practices of one the largest nurseries in the country that hardiness in the natural environment is not as closely coupled to hardiness as one might expect. Hardiness zones are only based on “top kill” temperatures, as the earth insulates roots enough for root kill to not be a primary factor in viability. A plants ability to survive in certain ABOVE ground conditions do not necessarily imply it’s ability to survive if the conditions below the soil line are at a similar level.
I think you were trying to quote @Kievnstavick. LoL
I understand, and I'm not saying everyone should just lay back and do nothing.
Read that chapter yesterday and I will do what I can to keep my potted trees safe from the sub-zero weather while I can...
I sneaked a look at the pictures on the wall. Beautiful family!
Most of those photos are at least 15 years old... I was much much much much more photogenic back then. Luckily, the kids take after their mother
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