Canadian winter plus balcony?

R_H

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Globalist1789

I'm in the same position, except I’m in Vancouver (Lotus Land!). Depending on how big your patio is, you couple construct some sort of mini green house out of bamboo poles, or better still with the fake plastic bamboo poles, and poly sheet. You can use the greenhouse in spring for early planting too. Failing that, I think a simple way would be to by that mulch ($6). But rather than just putting it only on top of the pots, wrap both the pots together with burlap and fill this “bag” with the mulch so you are protecting the sides of the pots too. Plus put the pots write up against the building.

Good?

R_H

Thank you. Ill try to do something similar. Another question i have though is what type of mulch i should use or if it even matters? I have seen cedar mulch, pine mulch coconut husks and some other types.

007

Avoid coconut . . . it can attract unwanted vermin.

The biggest thing you are going to have to combat being on a balcony is wind, not the cold. I mean cold is an issue, but the drying winds are going to be the killer here. I used an old styrofoam cooler with holes in the bottom for draining. Place a layer of mulch on the bottom of the cooler, place the plants in their pots on top of the mulch layer, and add more mulch up over the pots to the first branches or so. Water the whole thing, and put the lid on. Take the lid off on warmer days to allow some fresh air in. but this way, the tree's are both insulated and protected from the wind.

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Globalist1789

I'd go for the pine mulch. It makes a perfect soil component and you can use it as such next year.