Winter storage question

bmor

As you can see in the pic, i have some baby pines and young ginkgo's growing. Given the cooler temps of late, i brought them into the unheated shed the other day for the winter. As I like to use snow to water as required during the winter months and for insulation, i put these little pots in aluminum trays as i didn't want any excess water or snow resting on the wood shelves. After this mornings frost, i went into the shed and felt the aluminum which was quite cool to the touch. I didn't think it a good idea to have such a cool surface below for just frosty nights. I know that in the dead of winter, things will be frozen solid but I decided for fall and spring protection (mild days/cool nights) to add some crushed brick in the bottom in the hopes that it would have an almost insulating effect. Is this assertion correct?? any other thoughts??
thanx in advance.

Attached Images

Picture 012.jpg (67.7 KB, 57 views)

Advertisement

BillStruhar

The temperatures will be the same. A metal may FEEL colder than crushed brick, but that’s just YOUR perception. Everything in the shed will be the same temperature.

Tony

The best thing to do would be to get them on the floor of the shed. It'll be warmer down there. Then pile mulch around the pots to insulate them. The trees only care about absolute temperatures.

Tony

BillStruhar

Well said, except for one tiny, little detail: mouses. They gotta winter-over someplace, too, and this shed sounds like the Ritz, but with kitchen previleges! Buy some packages of Decon and leave them in plain sight where you won't water them. If they disappear entirely, restock, or lose stock!

clrosner

I place my trees on mulch and then cover them.... I've enclosed a couple pictures during the placement and the finish of the mulching.

I made a "T" shape from cinder blocks, so I can check them during the winter for water needs. I use long wooden skewers to check their needs.

__________________
Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7
arteacher3725@yahoo.com

CHECK OUT MY UPDATED WEBSITE AT[B]:
www.carlrosner.com

clrosner

I forgot to up load the pictures! Sorry

Attached Images

	GARAGE 041113 a.jpg (56.0 KB, 39 views)
	GARAGE 041113 b.jpg (54.3 KB, 26 views)
	GARAGE 041113 c.jpg (51.7 KB, 34 views)

__________________
Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7
arteacher3725@yahoo.com

CHECK OUT MY UPDATED WEBSITE AT[B]:
www.carlrosner.com

bmor

Thanx very much gentlemen for the advice. I wish i had a bigger shed (just builit it last fall)as i'm forced to keep some of my potensai on shelves given the limited floorspace in the shed itself. the picture doesn't do justice to the amount of potensai in front there that i have to cram in the shed. maybe i'll try something of a liner or frame for the shelves to put the pots in and fill with mulch??
thanx again.

Attached Images

DSCN0005.JPG (63.5 KB, 29 views)

bmor

Well I heeded some advice and did pretty much what was suggested and dropped all but the hardiest of my stock the floor of the shed and some to mulched boxes on some shelves. what is still up on some higher shelves are the conifers which should be hardy enough to make it without the drying winter winds. couldn't fit everything down low. next year i may even attempt to put the hardy conifers into the ground outside as so many seem to with good success.

pic 33 is the floor mulched area - some privet, ginkgo, mondo grass, pine seedlings and a few others.


pic 34 shows some cuttings from boxwood and blue pacific juniper from last winter that have rooted. they are in 3 inch pots that i placed in a grow box that was mulched for insulation. wished i'd found some styrofoam as discussed in another thread but hopefully this will be ok.

pic 41 shows a rectangle planter box that I put some pyracantha cuttings (in 4 inch pots) and juniper cuttings in and mulched around them. the shelf is about 14 inches off the floor.


BTW-- there's a couple mousetraps in the shed too so as keep the mice and moles from a potential xanadu of winter luxury.


thanx again for the suggestions, any further ideas

Attached Images

	Picture 034.jpg (70.8 KB, 27 views)
	Picture 041.jpg (69.9 KB, 26 views)
	Picture 033.jpg (72.3 KB, 23 views)

clrosner

Looks like you did very well!!!! I would suggest some long skewers (wood or bamboo) to be placed in some of the smaller pots. Check the soil end weekly. If they are cold and wet they do not need watering.... if they come out almost dry, it is time to give them water.

I usually touch the dirty end to my cheek, since the cheek is sensitive to the cold more than the fingers. You could also check for watering needs by placing the dirty end of the skewer on the inside of the writst...

__________________
Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7
arteacher3725@yahoo.com

CHECK OUT MY UPDATED WEBSITE AT[B]:
www.carlrosner.com