Making a cage frame + cold frame for bonsai, suggestions needed

[MapleMay]

Hello all! I have been lurking this site for the past year now and began my bonsai adventure last winter. I hope this is the right sub to post this question in.

I plan to grow my maple + JM seeds outdoors in a slightly raised garden bed but I need to make a cage (chicken wire) to prevent the bunnies and squirrels from digging them up. I also plan to build a cold frame right beside the cage but I need material suggestions. My zone is 6b, it can drop to -30C at night in February, and days can range from +10C to -20C. We also get hail at least twice a year late winter. I can bury/wrap my pots in the ground, or keep some in the plastic tubs without a lid (will they still get too warm?) My backyard is extremely windy, no trees for windbreak, and the garden/wall faces south with direct sun all day (no spot available north of the house). Here’s what I’m working with:

Basically I want to make a cage over one section to grow seeds as the soil quality here is great. Then Make a cold frame over the other section for serious weather days/nights. I figured the cold frame needs to be kept dark enough not to draw in any heat, so white plastic or just wood would be ok I imagine? This spot will be insulated by snow most of Februar/January and I won’t be able to get to it some days…

Sorry for the long post, I’m just not very handy but I need to make this soon as I have around 16 saplings in pots… My current set up is the final image for winter-proofing, but I worry this won’t be enough…

thank you!

 

[MapleMay]

I forgot to add dimensions of the garden bed… Height is 2’8”, length (out from wall) is 2’5” and max Width I can use is 5’.

 

[queenofsheba52]

Hi @MapleMay , I am very glad you found this awesome bonsai site!

I believe we might be dealing with similar overwintering conditions. I have never overwintered seedlings, or used a cold frame, but perhaps another Bnut will pop in who has experience with that.

Like you, I also have trouble with strong winds, which really changed how I overwinter. For my trees (and I use that term loosely LOL ) I "bury' the pots with soil slightly over the rim of the pot, in as sheltered a spot as I can find. My best results come from burying them close to the foundation of my house, on the north side. In the spring, when you bring your pots out of winter 'storage', the garden soil can easily be washed out with a gentle stream of water. I have some azaleas that are supposed to grow in my zone, but my windy conditions kill them. These I put in my unheated garage over winter. It's a little tricky to keep them moist enough: when the weather is above freezing I usually trickle a little water into the pots so they don't dry out.

I realize that this isn't very helpful to your questions but lots of data is good.

I wish you much happiness in your bonsai journey!

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Given the trees are dormant, one can get away with a plastic box dug in the ground for stability (but would have to shade it or keep the cover off when temps aren’t bad).

Better still a styrofoam fish box would be really great. They come really big.

Likely you’ll need to bore drainage holes in the bottom in either option.

cheers
DSD sends

 

[MapleMay]

Given the trees are dormant, one can get away with a plastic box dug in the ground for stability (but would have to shade it or keep the cover off when temps aren’t bad).

Better still a styrofoam fish box would be really great. They come really big.

Likely you’ll need to bore drainage holes in the bottom in either option.

cheers
DSD sends

Oh I didn’t know about the fish box, that seems perfect! Only issue are squirrels, will they be inclined in any way to tear through that?

 

[MapleMay]

Hi @MapleMay , I am very glad you found this awesome bonsai site!

I believe we might be dealing with similar overwintering conditions. I have never overwintered seedlings, or used a cold frame, but perhaps another Bnut will pop in who has experience with that.

Like you, I also have trouble with strong winds, which really changed how I overwinter. For my trees (and I use that term loosely LOL ) I "bury' the pots with soil slightly over the rim of the pot, in as sheltered a spot as I can find. My best results come from burying them close to the foundation of my house, on the north side. In the spring, when you bring your pots out of winter 'storage', the garden soil can easily be washed out with a gentle stream of water. I have some azaleas that are supposed to grow in my zone, but my windy conditions kill them. These I put in my unheated garage over winter. It's a little tricky to keep them moist enough: when the weather is above freezing I usually trickle a little water into the pots so they don't dry out.

I realize that this isn't very helpful to your questions but lots of data is good.

I wish you much happiness in your bonsai journey!

Thank you!

I might have to consider the north side of my house for winter storage now, only worry is security and very little room, but I did manage to find a well sheltered spot under a bush…

 

[Paradox]

I use a cold frame that I built alongside the north side of my house.

 

[Canada Bonsai]

I plan to grow my maple + JM seeds outdoors in a slightly raised garden bed

I would not recommended growing japanese maples in the ground for bonsai

I’m not sure how helpful this document (link below) will be help for your specific situation, but feel free to take a look. One thing that i frequently see people in Canada overlook is that a shelter, especially if it is clear, can easily cause your plants to wake from dormancy much earlier than they otherwise would, which can become VERY problematic (space, late frost, insufficient light, etc.). This is a concern whether your plants are in the ground or in containers.

Winters in Canada

CLICK HERE for our 'Winters in Canada' handout

canada-bonsai.myshopify.com

 

[MapleMay]

I use a cold frame that I built alongside the north side of my house.

I've seen something similar before, how does this work? I assume you cover it with that big wooden board on the cold days/nights? What's the reason for the single layer of concrete blocks by the far end, to step over or airflow?

 

[MapleMay]

I would not recommended growing japanese maples in the ground for bonsai

I’m not sure how helpful this document (link below) will be help for your specific situation, but feel free to take a look. One thing that i frequently see people in Canada overlook is that a shelter, especially if it is clear, can easily cause your plants to wake from dormancy much earlier than they otherwise would, which can become VERY problematic (space, late frost, insufficient light, etc.). This is a concern whether your plants are in the ground or in containers.

Winters in Canada

CLICK HERE for our 'Winters in Canada' handout

canada-bonsai.myshopify.com

Ahh thank you, I really appreciate all of this information, especially the costs when it comes to running a heater/fans. I do have a stairwell behind my garden and I'm wondering if I should just place my trees (in the bins) in there, I'd be able to get to them a lot easier when the snow is heavy too as they're right outside of my kitchen door... I figured the safest bet would be putting them on a soil bed for the natural warmth of the earth, should I place anything under them between the bins and concrete floor?

 

[Paradox]

I've seen something similar before, how does this work? I assume you cover it with that big wooden board on the cold days/nights? What's the reason for the single layer of concrete blocks by the far end, to step over or airflow?

I have 4x4 sheets of pvc plastic covers for it. That size is manageable by myself. 4x8 is a but too awkward to handle alone. I used to have 1/4 inch plywood covers but they require more maintenance (painting) and being plywood they absorb water making them heavy. You would have to really seal the edges to prevent it.

The picture was taken before the cold frame was complete. I have blocks stacked every 4 feet along the back to support the covers along that side. Yes the single layer is to step over. The wall there gets closed up when the coldframe is full of trees.

I only cover it when temperatures are predicted to fall below 30F. Otherwise it stays open.

 

[ShadyStump]

In your situation, I would go with the plastic tote buried in the ground, some holes punched in the bottom for drainage. Throw some gravel, or really anything as a spacer, in the bottom to give you an inch or two of additional space in case drainage into the ground is slow. Then a lid made of wood planks on the box.
You'll have well controlled temps from being buried, and the wooden top will protect against sun and wind while still allowing ventilation through the gaps between the planks. Lumber from the cull cart at the hardware store is great for such an application.

You can use a similar setup for anything you're ground growing. Just cut the bottom out of the tote and set it around the the trees this time, pressed into the ground as deep as you think necessary to keep critters from digging under, but with enough above ground to match the top of the trees. Your wooden top of course. You'll want to build dirt or mulch up along the sides for added aboveground insulation.

In both cases, throwing some mouse poison in their will be advisable.

 

[MapleMay]

I would not recommended growing japanese maples in the ground for bonsai

I’m not sure how helpful this document (link below) will be help for your specific situation, but feel free to take a look. One thing that i frequently see people in Canada overlook is that a shelter, especially if it is clear, can easily cause your plants to wake from dormancy much earlier than they otherwise would, which can become VERY problematic (space, late frost, insufficient light, etc.). This is a concern whether your plants are in the ground or in containers.

Winters in Canada

CLICK HERE for our 'Winters in Canada' handout

canada-bonsai.myshopify.com

Hi again, sorry for the late response, but can I ask why not grow jm’s in the ground for bonsai?

 

[MapleMay]

In your situation, I would go with the plastic tote buried in the ground, some holes punched in the bottom for drainage. Throw some gravel, or really anything as a spacer, in the bottom to give you an inch or two of additional space in case drainage into the ground is slow. Then a lid made of wood planks on the box.
You'll have well controlled temps from being buried, and the wooden top will protect against sun and wind while still allowing ventilation through the gaps between the planks. Lumber from the cull cart at the hardware store is great for such an application.

You can use a similar setup for anything you're ground growing. Just cut the bottom out of the tote and set it around the the trees this time, pressed into the ground as deep as you think necessary to keep critters from digging under, but with enough above ground to match the top of the trees. Your wooden top of course. You'll want to build dirt or mulch up along the sides for added aboveground insulation.

In both cases, throwing some mouse poison in their will be advisable.

Thanks! This is what I went with as my setup for this winter