Now the winter can come. but probably we will keep saying 'they still could all be out' until Christmas. Well, sometimes we have 50 cm of snow at this time of the year. And we had temperatures down to minus 10 Celsius before Christmas. After Christmas we certainly will have snow up to 100 cm and temperatures down to minus 15 Celsius or even worse. So all this winter protection is very necessary. It could be even much better. Well, but where in the world do I put all these trees?
A normal person with a sensible number of trees should protect them as well as possible. But I simply cannot do this.
23 comments:
Hi Walter, this greenhouse is heated or he cares only against dry cold winter?
Pawel
Pawel,
when it gets below minus 5 Celsius I start the heater.
WP
I see that most in greenhouse are hornbeams. What temperature is danger for them?
A very small minority are hornbeams, only 5 %. Early frosts below minus 10 and late frosts are dangerous for hornbeams.
WP
Thanks for the idea! Sometimes pictures tell us more than words would ever say.
We have a climate similar to yours (US - Chicago area). For 10 years my greenhouse made of PVC tubing with plastic covering has been sagging with the snow. I have to go out and shake the snow off to make sure it doesn't collapse. After seeing your photos, I realized that you install wooden 2x4s to reinforce your greenhouse roof for winter. I can do that too!
Walter ,
what is the last picture? ponderosa forrest?
Last image is a cembra pine forest, also called Swiss stone pine.
Pinus cembra
WP
Walter,
in june you wrote that some of your Rocky Mountain Juniper have lost some foliage last winter. Will you protct them special this winter or do just put them on the ground again?
greatings
Philipp
Philipp,
I have placed them close to the house in the shade and there will be very little rain. The small ones I have placed in the greenhouse. We'll see.
WP
Dear Mr. Pall:
I am a member of the Midwest Bonsai Society board in Chicago at the Botanic Gardens here. This year I plan to work hard to recommend that we invite you to be our Visiting Master to Judge the good sized annual show in August about 150 trees and over 12,000 visitors. We appreciate your valuable information and special artistry.
One short general question after seeing your recent winter garden photos....in general, do older more established trees endure the hardships of cold and wind a little better than younger trees, 5 years and younger?
Thank you.
Daniel Dolan
Chicago
Daniel,
I would love to come Back to Chicago, where I was in 2005 already. I pencil in August 2010 :-)
Ye, I believe that young and especially small trees in small pots are not as hardy as old and big trees.
I am not so sure whether your climate is exactly comparable. You have more continental climate, which may well mean very cold winters. I am at the edge of continental climate and more Atlantic climate. So I have moderate temperatures in summer and in winter.
WP
ahh...call it population control. A good hard winter will make for stronger plants in the future...weed out the weak and feable. do you agree WP?
Why would I agree with this?
WP
How large is the cembra forest?
Larger than the hornbeam forest.
WP
Walter,
will you protect all Juniper or just the Rocky Mountain Juniper?
Thanks
Well,
all trees are somehow protected. Just by placing them on the ground behind a post they are much better protected than on a stand. I do protect RMJ a bit better though. They now sit close to the house and get very little wind and sunshine all winter.
WP
Withh all due respect Walter, "sensible" people wouldn't have this many trees, that may be true. But the same sesible people wouldn't make the same "crazy" styling choices which give some of your winning trees their "flair" and charm. "Sensible" people wouldn't work so hard all day out in the field and then use the whole night to blog and share thier knowledge!
So thank goodness for the people, like you, who are not so "sensible" but are crazed with a passion for their art which is beautifull!
When it comes times to water the dormant trees in the greenhouse how do you manage this?
I grew up in a family where 'normal' folks were considered very bad, boring, not worthwhile and to be avoided. Only when I was an adult I realized that it is not normal to absolutely hate to become normal and be crazy instead voluntarily.
WP
I water the greenhouse with a big gardener can with water form the rainwater tub. If there is no water or if it is frozen stiff I carry several cans from the house. Sometimes I attach the garden hose and make everything dripping wet. This will suffice for another week normally.
WP
Awesome, absolutely awesome advice! This is my first wintering of my trees. I live in Utah with quite a cold climate. Do you recommend that I leave the trees outside on the ground under and overhang of the house or move them to my unheated, windowed garage? ALberta spruce, euonymus, boxwood, sequoia, and "nana" juniper - thanks!
SKO,
Utah has continental climate unfortunately. This means that you have to protect your trees better than I have to. Leave the Alberta spruce outside and bring all the others into the garage.
WP
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