How Do I Save My Trees From HARSH Winters?

laurengeary

I am quite new to bonsai and of course have many questions running through my mind. The biggest question that concerns me the most is how do I protect my trees from really harsh winters? I live in north central U.S. where the temps in the winter are often around zero degrees throughout the whole season. The problem is, all of the advice I have read suggests keeping them away from "frosts" and "cold spells". The thing is, it's freezing cold up here all the time and I think all of my trees are dead from freezing the root balls!! How can I prevent this?? My garage would not be suitable either because its just as cold! Please help! And another thing, is there a way to tell if my remaining trees are alive?? Thanks!!

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Tony

It depends on what kind of trees you have. Temperate trees hardy to your zone should be fine with the pots sitting on the ground with mulch over the pots and out of the wind. The water in the rootball freezing isn't necessarily a bad thing but again it depends on the type of tree.

Tony

Jay

Hi,
Some thoughts from someone who has 'been there and done that'. Do not discount the garage so quickly. I over winter my trees in an unheated garage. Yes, being unheated it approaches the outside temperature....I have used a remote probe and found it actually stays a few degrees warmer...not 10 but 2 to 5 degrees warmer. Second and very importantly it remains wind free. Drying due to winter winds is extremely bad for your tree. By being in a sheltered place be it a cold frame, green house, or garage, you are preventing this from happening. Something else that I found was the garage moderated temperatures. When the temps dropped over the course of the night, the garage was slower to drop and never reached the lowest outside temps...and equally as important, during the day when the outside temps 'might' go above freezing (and in the early spring into the 40's) the garage was slow to warm...keeping the temperatures below freezing. Why is this important.... prevent the freeze thaw freeze thaw cycle which is not good!

Also I have the trees in two groups, those hardy to my zone..and those although winter hardy, not capable of taking the sub-zero temps we can get. The more tender trees live on a shelf with a 'temperature moderator' I built. Under the shelf is a grid of copper tubing filled with automotive antifreeze. the grid has a plumbing heat tape on it, the kind that has a thermostat and is used to prevent your water pipes from freezing. It is not exspensive to buy and not exspensive to run. The heat tape keeps the copper pipe at about 40 to 45 degrees I believe. The pipe acts as a radiator giving off some heat which rises into the shelf above, by the time it gets there it keeps the trees in my garage from going below 25 to 28 degrees even during long spells of low single digits. Now the amount of copper tubing and electric heat tape will be different for different size shelves and different heat gain situations..but you get the idea...

good luck
Jay

__________________
A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

laurengeary

Thank you both so much! It was very helpful! However, the remaining question is...I still really have no idea how to see if my trees are still living. Is there a way that I can determine this so I can put this great advice into action?? Thanks again!

Tony

I see you didn't pick up on my little hint to tell us what species of trees they are. All I can do is guess. If they are tropical or subtropical trees they are likely dead already. If they are temperate trees used to cold weather then they may be ok. A couple of things you can check. The small branches should remain flexible throughout the winter and when a little bark is scratched away it should be moist underneath. If you run across branches that are totally dry and brittle then those branches have died. Don't throw anything out until July. Even if the tops have died back they may sprout from low on the trunk.

Tony

Jay

As Tony said, the type of tree will give you an idea if it did or didn't make it. At this point of the year there has been enough deep freeze and cold winds to have killed the trees...if in fact they are dead. The scratching of the bark and the ability to bend branches will give you an idea of life.. but why do it? If the tree is dead...its dead... if it is still alive do not do anything to hurt it!

You do not tell us how and where the trees are, or what type they are? If they are outside they are frozen, possible frozen to the ground. I would try and protect them as they stand. Perhaps build a quick shelter around them, nothing fancy, leave an opening so as to let the air circulate and any heat build up out(yea it can happen) . Cover them in snow..gentle here.. use fresh snow if possible nothing frozen.. you just want to give them some insulation. As Tony said in the spring when they leaf out be happy...the ones that don't, give till at least July 4th, then check the below the bark, if it is still green (the cambium), wait..........Patience is your best tool... a tool you need to learn to use well......

Good luck
Jay.... another novice who has seen some rough winters...and so have my trees!

__________________
A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

laurengeary

Hi again, Sorry I didnt let you in on what type of trees I have and where I keep them!. I keep them all in my garage and 4/5 are deciduous trees very common to my area. There is a juniper, black walnut, ginko biloba, white oak, and sugar maple. So, I am kind of getting the hint that if the trees are deciduous and common to the area that the freezing of the roots shouldnt be a problem?? Also, should they receive any water while in dormant stage?? And one last thing, I have heard about a type of oil that you put in the soil to prevent freezing, but is this really required with these types of trees in my area??
thanks again!

jcayer

Hi,

Even though they are common in your area, the best would be to bury the pot in the ground at the end of the fall season and to cover the tree with snow as soon as you can. BUT, if they are bonsai pots, the pots better be of good quality because they will crack. Then you protect the top part from the wind, because this is the ennemy. (snow or enclosure)

You say you put your tree in a garage, so they are protected from the wind. But the roots may be too cold. It depends of how cold it is in your garage.

Yes you need to water them in winter from time to time. Maybe once or twice a month, then again, it all depends of the temperature in your garage...

Maybe someone else would like to comment on this,

__________________
Best regards,

Jean

Tony

The trees you mentioned should do ok in the garage. They will still need water from time to time so just water when needed. Oil in the soil? Sounds nasty! I'd stay away from that.

Tony