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"I'd agree with the above . . . if you're concerned on the nights where it gets below freezing, just bring it indoors for the night and back outside when the frost is over."

Do NOT bring the tree inside if you're overwintering it outdoors. You will have problems either with early bud break or with shallow dormancy. I have overwintered Chinese elm outside with nothing but a mulch covering and a windbreak here in Zone 7 for ten years. Have had no real problems.

Besides, it's too early now to begin worrying about overwintering here in Zone 7 or 8. I wait until Thanksgiving to put any of my trees into winter storage (and that's when it's really cold. We have very warm weather this fall. I suspect I will wait until well into December before moving anything into storage.) Temperate trees need exposure to a frost or three and a freeze to help hardent hem off for winter storage. Denying the tree those can lead to problems. I leave mine, including "warmer weather" species like live oak and bald cypress, out on the benches until we've had at least two early winter freezes--when temperatures don't get below 25. Then store them.

7-Nov-2005	#7
rockm bonsaiTALK ArchMaster Join Date: Oct-2003 Location: Fairfax, Va Country: USA USDA Zone: 7 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 4,561	"I'd agree with the above . . . if you're concerned on the nights where it gets below freezing, just bring it indoors for the night and back outside when the frost is over." Do NOT bring the tree inside if you're overwintering it outdoors. You will have problems either with early bud break or with shallow dormancy. I have overwintered Chinese elm outside with nothing but a mulch covering and a windbreak here in Zone 7 for ten years. Have had no real problems. Besides, it's too early now to begin worrying about overwintering here in Zone 7 or 8. I wait until Thanksgiving to put any of my trees into winter storage (and that's when it's really cold. We have very warm weather this fall. I suspect I will wait until well into December before moving anything into storage.) Temperate trees need exposure to a frost or three and a freeze to help hardent hem off for winter storage. Denying the tree those can lead to problems. I leave mine, including "warmer weather" species like live oak and bald cypress, out on the benches until we've had at least two early winter freezes--when temperatures don't get below 25. Then store them.