Terrible strong winds...

[Cadillactaste]

These concern me...just how do you all keep your trees from blowing away? I have some in heavy pots. But...like the rosemary it is in a very flimsy plastic pot right now. And not a heavy tree/plant in its own right. More top heavy in a good wind...I would imagine with it's foliage.
The weather is to be decent...other than strong winds.

 

[GrimLore]

Put them in tall plastic storage containers, acts as a great wind barrier. Very strong winds here today as well but 60 degrees!

Grimmy

 

[small trees]

Wire your pot to your stand, but i would consider moving or sheltering the trees during times of extreme weather, assuming that the weather could actually cause damage to the tree. If you are just worried about the tree blowing off of the stand, wire it down.

 

[Poink88]

Bonsai pots are in general more stable than plastic pots. There are exceptions so be mindful esp since they are breakable.

I have a few trees before in 5 gallon pots that did somersault from the bench that cost me the entire apex of my tree.

I since wised up and used wider and lower containers...more stable and less drag. The taller and bigger side area pots are kept on the ground. Watering before the strong winds (heavy pot) help too.

My rosemary in plastic pots sometimes tumble around my yard. I just let them find their own parking spot. LOL

 

[coppice]

Wiring your plant-tree to its pot, and wiring-lashing tree in-pot to the bench can also slow down those &*%$ hairy-tailed tree rats from tipping your tree out of its pot. Not just a heavy breeze.

 

[JudyB]

Or build a windbreak area for your trees in their outdoor spots. We built a structure with sliding doors we call it the windhouse. As we live at the top of a hill, I use it often.

 

[Lazylightningny]

move them to the leeward side of the house. I've also seen pics of people bungee-cording them to their shelves.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I was thinking of having a table built for them...
***cough*** I like primitive country***cough***(sorry guys) so I was thinking a potting table with upper shelfs. But where I want to put it... that is the area that gets most of the wind...

I like your idea of a shelter Judy. Maybe I could make doors for the upper part out of old windows. That can close if need be. Having there be sides where the shelf is...the depth of the window. Allowing the window to rest against it when not in use. Or...an extra long table...with sliding windows to slide over in front of them if it gets windy. Or better yet...use window frames (without glass) for structure...and use shutters for their actual purpose. Of blocking strong winds.

Not having the back of the table enclosed would allow for ventilation and not have them totally contained. That part would be facing the house structure.

In the meantime...great advice by all. And easily accomplished to keep them from being blown away.

Friends of ours...their kids trampoline just blew through their horse pasture...taking out the fence...horses went running down the road. They will have their hands busy today it seems. Crazy wind!

 

[Dav4]

As others have said, properly wiring trees into the pots is critical. I only wire my tallish cascade pots to the benches as the others potted in ceramic pots are quite heavy and the wind is usually a non issue. I will preemptively move smaller trees to the ground if we are expecting severe thunderstorms...if I get a wind strong enough to blow a 70 # tree/pot of my bench, I've got bigger problems to deal with, I would think.

 

[Cadillactaste]

As others have said, properly wiring trees into the pots is critical. I only wire my tallish cascade pots to the benches as the others potted in ceramic pots are quite heavy and the wind is usually a non issue. I will preemptively move smaller trees to the ground if we are expecting severe thunderstorms...if I get a wind string enough to blow a 70 # tree/pot of my bench, I've got bigger problems to deal with, I would think.

See I assumed the cascade pot with the wisteria safer because it's so heavy. (Little did I know) It's against the house that is sheltered from most wind though. But I would like to move some of the trees to a more windy location...which seems foolish...but, if planned properly can be doable.

 

[GrimLore]

Darlene, if you are uncomfortable wiring directly to the tree or roots you can place chopsticks across the roots and wire them to the pot to hold the plants in. You are going to find it necessary no matter where you put your plants unless enclosed. Myself I do not like walking the dog much less my plants

Grimmy

 

[JudyB]

Here's a link to a thread with some photos of the wind house, just to give you some ideas...
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?11375-New-bench-areas

 

[dick benbow]

here in earthquake country we bungee or use twine to anchor the pots to their stand, Seems to work as well for wind which we get on occassion hustling down the green River Valley.... just make sure the newest green growth is protected till it hardens off. we had strong winds the other day and while i was checking my roses for aphids, saw many new shoots lying on the ground.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Darlene, if you are uncomfortable wiring directly to the tree or roots you can place chopsticks across the roots and wire them to the pot to hold the plants in. You are going to find it necessary no matter where you put your plants unless enclosed. Myself I do not like walking the dog much less my plants

Grimmy

I don't have an issue...though, the bougainvillea is tilting even though wired in. I believe it's more due to weight on the trunk from above being weighed down with bracts and foliage. Though a job I did do. It's not really moved from the initial planting...just the weight of the branch has caused it to be more of a semi cascade verses the slant style I was going for.

I did not wire my wisteria...but...I might look into how it can be wired to the table...because I know it was wired into the pot.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Here's a link to a thread with some photos of the wind house, just to give you some ideas...
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?11375-New-bench-areas

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing a link...

 

[GrimLore]

Cool on the wiring Many people get very nervous messing with roots when they are starting out, it is very common but necessary. It may be easier to use Bungee cords or string on the table as someone suggested earlier. It is SO Windy here today and I understand your dilemma, good luck with it.

Grimmy

 

[Cadillactaste]

Cool on the wiring Many people get very nervous messing with roots when they are starting out, it is very common but necessary. It may be easier to use Bungee cords or string on the table as someone suggested earlier. It is SO Windy here today and I understand your dilemma, good luck with it.

Grimmy

I may slip pot the rosemary just for added weight. The pot is a very flimsy plastic. I had considered wiring it in as well. For additional protection...

 

[GrimLore]

I may slip pot the rosemary just for added weight. The pot is a very flimsy plastic. I had considered wiring it in as well. For additional protection...

If you have a larger garden pot laying around you could dump in whatever amount of garden gravel it takes to bring the pot up to near surface and fill in around it to hold the pot as is in there could be a win win...

Grimmy