|
Today's discussion is about Winter care and features comments from bonsai masters Frank Mihalic , Rick Bracken and myself .
Says Frank :
One of the most important items in wintering is to make sure that the place you select will get cool enough for the tree to go dormant. The temperature must go into the mid or low 40s for your tree to go dormant properly. If you use a garage/ or an enclosed porch be sure that you check your trees frequently to see if they need watered. When the sun is bright in the winter a garage temperature will go up above freezing and your tree might dry out. Never water your tree when the soil is frozen. The best way to winter trees is to use a poly house or a cold frame, once you water your trees in and enclose them in the white (not clear) plastic you only check them on warm days .
Until spring. Note: be sure to put in plenty of DECON or some type of mouse poison as a poly house or a cold frame will be a great winter home for mice.
Says Andy :
I winter my trees in my garage . Frank and Rick winter their trees in the cold greenhouse at Wildwood Gardens . Since my garage is set in the middle of a duplex I can maintain temperatures in the 40's . The three of us agree that most species respond well to the conditions we provide for them . Many hardy trees like larch , spruce , yew and hornbeams can be kept outside protected from sun and wind . I have about 10 trees outside now .
An enthusiast friend of mine recently inquired about trees of his that are budding very early and going dormant in the last week of August . This is a common problem when winter temperatures are too high for these trees . Last year one of my maples budded in February . This year I'm keeping it outside . I removed it from the pot and heeled it in the ground in September . That should reset its bio-clock .
|
|
