Black Pine Low Temp Threshold

[FrankP999]

What is the low temp limit on JBP? Here in middle Georgia, we rarely have really cold temps so my pines are only protected from wind. This weekend and next week temps are to be 10-14. What is the temp I should be worried about? I plan on covering them with straw and a blanket.

Thanks and good luck to you folks getting the real extremes well below zero. Ouch!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Mine have gotten down to 13, mulched under pine straw under the benches, which is what I'll do this weekend. I try to keep them out of direct sun if the pots are mulched under and frozen, otherwise the needles can burn without the ability to draw moisture from the roots.

I'm more concerned about the pots, the JBP and JWP should be fine down to 10.

 

[Vance Wood]

Where's that Global Warming we have been promised?

 

[FrankP999]

Thanks Brian for the tips. I will do the same here in middle Georgia.

I don't know about global warming - but as far as Climate Change, I have experienced more extremes and more variability the last few years. Higher highs, lower lows, new record annual rainfall in 2013 of 70 inches. Temps Monday will probably break a century old record here. I will be interested to see how many all-time records are broken the next few days across the USA.

 

[Dav4]

Japanese Black Pines are rated to usda zone 5. When I lived in MA, my only JBP saw temps fall below zero without any problems...heavily mulched into the side of a hill out of the sun and wind. My trees were out on the benches yesterday morning when it fell to 16 F. With that said, it'll be down in the single digits approaching zero in my little piece of paradise in a few days, so they're all going under the deck with most of the other trees where I'll mulch them with leaves. I think mulching your trees well and putting a wind barrier up for a few days would be the way to go. The cold snap down here will be brief, but maybe also for the record book, too, but if you mulch your trees well, they will be fine....I'd be more concerned about your water pipes freezing/bursting.