I picked up a Japanese Black Pine last week at a session in Columbus, didn't get a hard answer for our zone as to how to over Winter it. The speaker suggested I get advice of local growers, reasonable way to answer something that specific.
My gut says bury in back out of the wind, don't have a cold garage or shed as my first choice. Here in S. Ohio, it'll get pretty darn cold, wondering what other folks do? Third year plant, envision buring it and mulching up the trunk a bit - decent idea? My Hinoki lived that way last winter, no drama / injuries.
Thanks!
Brent
It should be fine in Zone 6...
I'm pretty close to South Point, Oh. As you mentioned on the back side of the house out
of the wind (protected) is good. That's the N side of the house for most where algae grows on the siding.
Last Winter was pretty mild IMHO for 6a-6b, however this Fall/Winter through Jan. is predicted to
be at or below normal here.
What I've done the last 2 years is put all my bonsai huddled together
under my sunroom on the ground and cedar mulched around them packing the mulch well, between
the pots and a little maybe 2" or so on top of the soil. If exposed a bit more, you can always
put some leaves about the foliage in addition to, on top of the mulch, and stake down some
plastic webbing from Lowes/HD when the forecast calls for a Polar Express event, then expose the foliage again when temps and winds get more normal for the season. Previously had healed my pots
into the ground and mulched them over some, leaving space at base of trunk to breathe.
I left one juniper totally exposed on the S side unprotected from winds last Winter.
It is in a 12" round pot and doing quite well today. Took it like a champ. I do have JBP WP and JWP
as well as Hinoki that I Winter this way. They get no direct light for 3 months, and infrequent waterings.
Folks in Northern Ohio, often allow the snow pack to be their insulator and moisture provider.
