Unwintering my bonsai. Too early?

[Jason_mazzy]

I'm thinking its time for my plants to begin seeing the signs to wake up. After SNOWMAGGEDON the weather is warming up, the nights are above freezing or hovering closely, and of course the days are getting longer.

Now saying that no one wants to lose a tree they have been working on and I purchased a bunch of 3year red pine seedlings, what's your take on moving these out if the garage and into the weather?

 

[Poink88]

Depends on your weather and the type of plants.

I brought out my tropical trees last week but will be moving them back in come Thursday. Work but for me it is worth it for the sake of my trees. I will probably do this "dance" a few times before "proper" spring comes.

The answer is it depends on how much you are willing to punish yourself. LOL

 

[GrimLore]

I'm thinking its time for my plants to begin seeing the signs to wake up. After SNOWMAGGEDON the weather is warming up, the nights are above freezing or hovering closely, and of course the days are getting longer.

Now saying that no one wants to lose a tree they have been working on and I purchased a bunch of 3year red pine seedlings, what's your take on moving these out if the garage and into the weather?

That is a hard call. The average temperature of the plants at the base and the surface that you will be putting them on would be a concern as well as forcasted temps. Pinus resinosa do well in zones 3 through 7 so I would have left them on the ground outside here in 6b.

Grimmy

 

[Paradox]

In Texas, where Dario is, spring is probably in full swing.

Where I am (Long Island, NY), it is waaaay too early. I have a couple more months.

In NC youre probaby somewhere in between. If youre definately above freezing all the time, you mght be OK. BUT this has been a crazy winter. You are going to have to keep your eye on the weather and may need to move some or all your trees back inside for a night or two.

 

[Jason_mazzy]

In Texas, where Dario is, spring is probably in full swing.

Where I am (Long Island, NY), it is waaaay too early. I have a couple more months.

In NC youre probaby somewhere in between. If youre definately above freezing all the time, you mght be OK. BUT this has been a crazy winter. You are going to have to keep your eye on the weather and may need to move some or all your trees back inside for a night or two.

yes this is what I figured. im not too uncomfortable bringing them in for a night once a week or so but I don't want to do the bring them in take them out, bring them in take them out dance. I figure its probably healthier for them to get those nature timings (heat and day length).

I usually do not winter really. I have hardy trees but with my more refined pines, Umes, and tridents I got paranoid after seeing these crazy record lows in the area.

I left the black pine seedlings outside and they have done fine but the reds came in late in the season with their tap roots cut and winter weather had already descended. I wanted to give them the best shot at survival. I left the white pine seedlings out seeing as they enjoy colder temps... we will see if that was a mistake soon.

 

[GrimLore]

I left the black pine seedlings outside and they have done fine but the reds came in late in the season with their tap roots cut and winter weather had already descended. I wanted to give them the best shot at survival. I left the white pine seedlings out seeing as they enjoy colder temps... we will see if that was a mistake soon.

As I said earlier the Reds "should" have been out there as well although I did not understand their condition. My self I would leave them in for another 2 weeks and avoid "the dance". I expect your whites as well as all others will be fine(I have not seen mine for weeks buried in snow and they will be fine). I would recommend you leave the Reds out next year and not worry them. They all handle our "harsh" weather just as they should. It does help to have them well draining on the ground and wind protected but once the snow buries them here they are sleeping and do not seem affected.

Grimmy

 

[Paradox]

Yes the fall and spring dances in and out can be a real pain.

Seems like you've got it pretty well thought out Jason. If you do decide to bring some stuff out, just watch the weather like a hawk and be especially careful of those with the tender roots (as youve stated) and anything that is starting or newly leafed out (if you have any deciduous trees). That new foliage can be especially sensitive to swings in temperature.

 

[Dav4]

I'm in zone 7b, N GA. Less then three weeks ago, it was 8 F in my back yard...I'm in full on repotting mode now with two maples done yesterday and another slated for tomorrow. I say any hardy plants you have NEED to be outside right now, particularly the evergreens. Even those new pine seedlings can take a frost right now. The longer they stay in the dark garage with temps well above freezing, the more likely they'll start pushing weak growth and/or develop fungal issues. Get them out in the sun!!!

 

[johng]

Being 100 miles or more south of you, I typically try to wait until the 1st of March before I unpack everything...even then I sometimes have to protect trees overnight. I typically only winter protect the non-conifers...the conifers stay on the bench all winter without any problems. I have only ever experienced winter problems with Boxwoods and Azaleas...everything else seems to do fine.

We have had significant freezes up until the second week in April in years past. For me, the real problem happens with those trees that are non-natives...Japanese Maples for instant are always the first trees to bud for me in the Spring...and of course before the last couple of freezes. Tender new leaves are very susceptible to those freezes and need to be protected or you can guarantee there will be damage.

I was in the garden yesterday and only a few of my trees are starting to move at all...just bud swelling...given the odd weather this year, I will probably wait a little longer to unpack just to be on the safe side.

I personally think you are about 2-3 weeks early...but I understand, the bug has me chomping at the bit to get started as well

John

 

[GrimLore]

Agreed, at least two weeks...

Grimmy

 

[Dav4]

John, do you overwinter your maples in a structure like a garage or greenhouse? If so, do you have problems with them budding out too early due to the added winter protection? When I lived in MA, I'd actually move my tridents and palmatums out of the garage in mid March to mulch in my veggie garden...if I didn't, they'ed be full leafed out by the end of March with another 4-6 weeks of frosts and freezes ahead.

 

[jk_lewis]

I'd wait. I'm not too far from you. Our last freeze CAN be in April, though it's usually some time in late march. You're north of me an at a bit higher elevation, I suspect.

 

[johng]

John, do you overwinter your maples in a structure like a garage or greenhouse? If so, do you have problems with them budding out too early due to the added winter protection? When I lived in MA, I'd actually move my tridents and palmatums out of the garage in mid March to mulch in my veggie garden...if I didn't, they'ed be full leafed out by the end of March with another 4-6 weeks of frosts and freezes ahead.

Nope, no enclosure. I just mulch them in on a protected side of the house....but they still bud early...especially compared to the native stuff...its always last to bud out.

I have considered a greenhouse/cold frame but ultimately I don't think I really need it here and it would be just one more thing to take care of....

John

 

[Martin Sweeney]

I'm thinking its time for my plants to begin seeing the signs to wake up. After SNOWMAGGEDON the weather is warming up, the nights are above freezing or hovering closely, and of course the days are getting longer.

Now saying that no one wants to lose a tree they have been working on and I purchased a bunch of 3year red pine seedlings, what's your take on moving these out if the garage and into the weather?

Mr Mazzy,

While I do not live in the frozen wasteland that is Hickory, NC. and conceding that it is probably a full zone colder than Waxhaw, I have not and do not keep my trees any more protected than tucked behind the shed and next to a wood pile and buried (at the beginning of winter) up to the top of the pots (now less due to settling) in mulched up leaves run under the mower from earlier this winter. That said, I shouldn't think bringing them out and leaving them out with some root zone protection would be an issue, if they are still dormant. Quite a few of my trees (pines, hinoki and some boxwood) stayed on the benches all winter and certainly seem no worse for the wear. We went under 10 multiple times this winter and I am not worried about any of them.

I would think your biggest concern in NC, even in Hickory, would be leafing out followed by a freeze. That said, I would find as shady and wind free of a spot as possible and bury anything that didn't have root work over the winter in some sort of mulch to keep them as dormant as possible for as long as possible. Too much coddling seems to me to be the concern as too protected an area is as likely as not going to spur bud break at this point due to trapping and holding heat. The stuff that had root work should be ok as well. What I dug in February on the collecting trip was treated as per the above and I do not anticipate issues.

Regards,
Martin

 

[Jason_mazzy]

perhaps my biggest concern then is I am too lazy to bury the pots in any mulch. I also don't have a place reasonable to do that.

 

[drew33998]

I would be careful in NC. Even here in Florida I am afraid that we will have a couple days left that will dip below freezing. I will be shuffling trees in and out, (at least the deciduous trees that have leafed out). Take a look at your historical temps for your area. It will show you the average temps for each day and month.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

It's far safer to wait a little too long than to start a little too soon if they were somewhat protected for the winter.

I was actually surprised to see Dave repotting already in GA. I probably won't start for another 3 weeks.

 

[twisted trees]

Oh, if only... I wish I had these concerns in February. Still temps below zero and over a foot of snow on the seedling beds. Trees comfy cozy in winter storage. Just refilled the heating oil tank. Sigh!

 

[Dav4]

It's far safer to wait a little too long than to start a little too soon if they were somewhat protected for the winter.

I was actually surprised to see Dave repotting already in GA. I probably won't start for another 3 weeks.

I always try to get my deciduous trees out of the way by the end of February. Over the four plus years where I've lived here north of Atlanta, my experience has been that they will start to leaf out sometime in March, and the spring season is very busy for me with lots of non bonsai stuff to deal with. In other words, I get them out of the way because I have to. I only have a handful of maples right now, so they're easy to move under the deck or into the garage as needed.
I wasn't suggesting to the op that it was repotting time in his neck of the woods, and should have been more clear on that. My only concern for him is keeping evergreens or hardy deciduous trees in a warm, dark garage. I've got a bunch of pine seedlings that I received in December, as well, and I've been moving them in and out of my garage all winter long...they spent most of January and February inside, but with no freezing temps forecast for the next week, they'll be outside in the sun until the next cold snap.

PS Brian, the buds on the Hawthorn are swelling

 

[Don Blackmond]

leave them dormant as long as possible. once you wake them, and they start, you cannot stop them, only slow them, and that can be a major issue.