Trees - USDA Zone 4 - Good And Bad

Jay

I realize that many of our membership is entering into their spring, and many others who are coming into fall in warmer climates still have growing time available, but some of us 'up north' are thinking of overwintering and winter activitises.

As many of you know, I am preparing for a relocation from Zone 5b/6a to Zone 4. In preperation for this move I thought I'd start this thread with thoughts on trees that will be better suited to northern life... and those to avoid. My new home is not yet found, but I (as well as my trees) will be spending mid-May through mid-September at my summer home on the north side of an island in the Adirondacks. The trees will get at best 4-5 hours of direct sun.

I am not worried about overwintering, I feel (and hope I am right) that I will be able to have the proper winter situation for the trees, it is the growing season that I am asking advise about.

So that is the givens... what are the suggestions.....

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

Advertisement

Adam_MA

How bout some ear muffs and scarves for the trees? Zone 4?? Brrrrrrr that's cold!!


Adam

Jay

Adam, Yes, it will be cold, but we love to ski. Plus as you know the USDA Zone is a average minimum cold thing. Actually the areas I will be moving to will get as warm(hot) as here, zone 5b/6a but.... for a shorter length of time. Also, my new growing season will be shorter for sure. But compromise is the thing to do!

Wintercare is actually the same, the trees that will be able to take only 25-35 F temperatures for the winter are being protected here already. My present temperatures unprotected outside are in the single digits most winters, sometimes below zero and always long stretches (several days to a week) of low teens.

Scarves and ear muffs...... ear muffs..... we don't need no stinking ear muffs (tongue planted firmly in check)

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

Bart Thomas(deceased)

Your tongue will freeze there in Vermont ski country, where you can expect (a few) days to get down to -30 (excluding wind chill); nights (of course) are lower.

The explanation is easy. This wind starts in Siberia, blows over the polar ice cap, and hits Vermont (and New Hampshire).

The good news is that they often close the ski lifts those days, so you can hudle over your kiln.

Jay

Bart, so true!!! Last winter we were up to Sugarbush to ski. The closed the lifts, high winds.... -30F at the base and nearly -60 at the top (wind chill I think). But you will not get the skiing in NJ that I will.....so......Off I will go.... but not just yet anyway!

J

__________________
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

Bart Thomas(deceased)

Jay:

I used to get plenty of skiing (Stowe) when my mother had a Christmas Tree farm just west of St. Johnsbury.

Boy, I wish I'd been into bonsai then! It would have been such a great collecting site! Almost tempts me to go up and visit my cousins in Greensboro!

Of course, the best time to do that is the infamous "muddy season".

Deacon Jim

Jay,

Three years ago I moved from direct sunlight all day on a hot deck to a wooded property where the trees only received several hours of direct sunlight. On the deck I built frames with shade cloth for the deciduous trees and never worried about watering. That is, I watered twice a day during the peak of summer. I've spent three summers clearing trees to build flower and conifer gardens and get more light to the bonsai.

Trees that did Great with minimal direct light:
Korean Hornbeam, Amur Maple, Corkbark Elm

Trees that suffered:
Junipers and conifers.
I lost a few before I gained better control of my watering habits (poking the soil, lifting the pots to check the weight, etc., before watering.) They still aren't thriving like on the deck in the direct sun. I tried using more akadama but it seemed to break down quickly then stays to wet. This year I used more grit.

Next summer I will clear the last of the area where the bonsai will finally have a home with lots of sun.

My experience: It was easier to deal with 12 hours of direct sun and shelter the trees than it was to handle minimal sun for the junipers and conifers.

Hope this somehow helps,
Deacon Jim

Adam_MA

If you're going to VT I would have to say Jay Peak is my favorite! ALWAYS plenty of fresh powder!


Good luck
Adam