bye bye mild autumn!

Alasdair

All this we've been having with our leaves staying on trees later than normal and next springs blossoms bursting open in november got a shock this morning. Here in the midlands we had a chilly night. Clear sky and a cold wind gave us one hell of a frost, aparently down to -5*C. And as i was walking down the road i was watching the leaves falling from the trees. The cherries, maples, birch and poplar which have only just turned to their autmnal colours are getting naked before my eyes!

I'm just hoping they haven't suffered too much, otherwise it's going to be a boring spring. I've seen spring flowering cherries in blossom and even my lilac, which flowers in the summer!

I think we all need to join hands and hope that our planty friends have a real good sleep so they can come back strong in the summer.

Al

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I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on...
Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth

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wabashene

It's grim down south as well Al - 2 very heavy frosts this week already @-4C with the attendant mad rush to Halfords for scrapers and de-icer :-)

I've approached this from a slightly different angle.

My concern over the last few years on the south coast is that it may have not been cold enough early enough or for long enough to give species like J White Pine, some acers etc. the sufficient dormancy/chilling period or whatever it is they need to give them that kick start in spring.

This may be what you are implying.

I had tridents and Ulmus J Hillier in the ground in full leaf last winter in January. They finally lost them and but were growing back 6 weeks later.

Potentially the same problem our American friends may have trying to grow J White Pine in Louisiana and I don't know how beneficial it is ultimately for boreal/temperate trees to think its still summer in November!

TimR

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If I knew the way, I would take you there.

andrew lenden

Hi guys jack frost has been here too. i,ve heard that most deciduous trees only need about 6 weeks dormancy to remain healthy. For the rest of the winter they are just waiting for conditions to become favourable, ultimately they are pretty resilient. I imagine climate change is something that some ancient trees have experienced more than once already, regards andrew

Alasdair

It was last night i moved my trees into their winter hiding places and i couldn't help but feel afraid for them. BOY IT WAS COLD!

I just have to keep reminding myself they survived the last 6 winters.....

Al

__________________
I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on...
Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth

Arnie

Well, I didn't get home from work until 1am this morning....by then my Maples had been frozen for a good few hours. I'll have to get them under cover tonight - forcast for the South East Coast is minus every night this week.

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Where theres a will theres a way

thebadger58

Yeah we had a very frosty night and morning up here. Nice covering on the grass! Some places further north had few inches of snow as well. As a total beginner i havnt bought a tree yet, just ploughing through the site reading threads etc. I want to get a Scots Pine but probably will wait til after the winter has come and gone. Its supposed to be a bad winter this year.

Alasdair

My grandparents live up in Elgin and have been boasting about their snow for days!

I'm not sure about this, but i think pines are quite difficult as a beginner tree as they don't like to be pruned too heavily etc. Don't hold me to this though.

Al

__________________
I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on...
Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth

Arnie

Buts Pines and Larch dont mind the cold! I just leave them in the same position all year round.

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Where theres a will theres a way

wabashene

3 UK residents talking about the weather. That doesn't happen very often.

:-)

Yes, Andrew, I think it was on Brent's site maybe that acers?? need 1000 hrs under 40F chill time to break dormancy when the warm up comes or something like that.

That's about 6 weeks if my calculator doesn't lie.

TimR

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If I knew the way, I would take you there.