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20-May-2004
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#1 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
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Winter Shelter
This is a picture of what I am thinking of using for a winter shelter. It was a old bookcase/storage unit that I was made for an odd nook in my old apartment. Upon moving into my new duplex, I could not fit it either up the stairs or down. So I water proofed it and added a plexiglass front on hinges. The box is also mounted on casters so I can roll it around the deck. The bottom is for storage, and the top, is of course for my trees. So far it has done a good job protecting them from high winds and some hail. I want to use it for a winter shelter, but I am afraid it will offer little protection from freezing temps. I was thinking about putting heat cables along the bottom, so the pot would not freeze, but it would still be cold enough for winter dormancy. Any ideas?
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21-May-2004
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#2 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
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I used a setup similar to yours to overwinter my trees this past winter. The only difference was, instead of plexiglass, I wrapped the whole thing in plastic. It worked well I guess cause all my trees are still alive. If all your trees are hardy to your zone, I think it will work.
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24-May-2004
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#3 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
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You really need the trees on the ground with mulch or snow heaped over the pots in winter. That keeps the temps higher and more stable than above ground. Most people don't think about it but the earth radiates alot of heat relative to the air temperatures in the winter. The air temperature might be 20 below but a pot on the ground with a few inches of mulch over it and protected from the wind will stay much warmer. 10-20 degrees above 0.
It will depend on what species you are growing too. Most temperate species can take a frozen rootball with no problems but not too much colder than that. 20 degrees F. and below actuall root temperature, is the where alot trees will have problems with root cells freezing and rupturing. Heating cables might work for keeping the temps up on cold nights but I think it would be hard to regulate and it will take the first winter to experiment to see what's what. It's hard to beat a cold frame built on the ground in a shady spot. For winter storage you want the trees cold and stable without big swings in temperature. Tony |
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