Winter thermal jacket

xxbodhixx

I was trying to think of an easier way to protect my trees during winter. We get night time temps into the single digits here and for me, mulching my trees would require me to fence the trees off to protect them from our dogs.

I thought about lining a pot or box bigger than the pot the tree is in with plastic. Then squirting in some of that expandible foam insulation into it and then shoving in the actual pot (coated with plastic). When the foam hardenend I would remove the custom-fitted insulation jacket from both pots and have it where I could slip it on when needed.

I just don't know it this would provide enough protection from bitter cold.

Any thoughts or advice??

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Dav4

I'm wondering if that expandable foam insulation is rated for exterior use. If not, I'd bet that water and sub freezing temps would turn it to mush. Do you have a unheated structure that the potted trees can be placed in or around? I use my unnattached garage- some of the trees got moved in there just today... the others get mulched in on the north side of the garage and get a burlap fence to shield them from north winds. Works fine and my 150# mastiff has yet to innappropriately fertilize any of my trees.


Dave

Mcspeed

Drainage would be an issue doing this, unless you make holes too. Then you still have to cover the tops.

Do you have a fence you can place them against, mulch them in, then lean a sheet of plywood etc. againts the fence as a barrier against the dogs?

edit - Ok question - what kind of trees?

Also realize that you are not protecting them from the cold per se, it's more to keep them cold so they don't cycle thru warm and cold, this isn't good for the roots, also possibly breaking dormancy too soon, which could kill off budding.

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xxbodhixx

I have several trees, but most are in training pots or the plastic pots they come in at the nursery as they are pre-bonsai or purchased at the end-of-season sales.

I lost all of my bonsai trees a few years back due to a midnight suprise hail storm that also destroyed our roof and several trees in the ground. So I'm just getting started again.

It is hard to pile up enough mulch to cover the 1 and 3 gallon pots some of these trees live in. and what about watering? Do you have to mulch, unmulch to water, remulch etc.?

150# mastiff?? Lordy... I am only worried about a Boston Terrier (albeit a large one for the breed 40#) But fertilizer is not my concern. He has developed the evil habit of pulling the tree out of the pot and gnawing it like a bone.


Terry

tachigi

First of if your gonna spend the money on foam, why not spend on pig wire. Its a little sturdier than chicken wire. Make a circle with it and surround your trees. This ought to keep the dog out. Take some training wire and secure the two ends together and anchor it to the ground. If you really want to go to town you could drape some plastic over the top and you'd essentially have a mini hoop house which will also protect from drying winds.

My question is, your in Lubbock Texas?. Your low temps can't be all that bad to fret over freezing pots. Am I missing something here?

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rockm

Lubbock is in the Northern part of Texas--Zone 7-6. Gets cold there.

I think you're setting yourself up for disaster. Plastic sheeting, plastic foam, etc. does not make it easy to make sure the trees remain moist, or provide much insulation from the cold. The foam is used in applications where there is alot of heat present. You're not trying to keep the trees toasty warm. What you're aiming for is to protect temperate tree roots from the coldest winter temperatures, not from freezing. Temperate plant roots need the cold to complete their dormancy cycle. Most can stand temps below 25 for short periods.

The best way to overwinter trees is with mulch and a sheltered spot on or in the ground. The ground acts as a huge sump for "heat" in the winter. It provides the mass to help keep the temperature pretty even--if you can provide some sort of porous covering to "lag" the temperature. Mulch provides that kind of covering. Spend an extra $30 for wire to surround your trees mulched on the ground. How much money have you invested in the trees? Weigh that against what you're spending to protect your investment...