More thoughts on winter protection
This article is getting put together on
the first weekend of January 2018.
Central Ohio, like a great deal of the country has been experiencing record-breaking
weather extremes. Extreme low temperatures have a hit the Eastern 1/3 of the
country, and heavy snow fall has been piling up in places that are used to
snow, and plenty of snow if falling in places where it almost never does so.
If you’re reading this newsletter, Im
certain you’re concerned about the outdoor pets and the kids waiting at the bus
stop, but reports of severe weather probably elicit one response: What about my
trees? It a natural question, and even though I’ve been in the bonsai game for
a good long while, I still get that gut reaction.
The good news is that the trees will be
alright…probably. Trees have been
dealing with extreme weather for millennia, so they know what they’re doing. We as growers usually just have to get out of
their way and let them do what they do. However, we can make the job easier
by giving a proper environment and a
moderate amount of preparation.
I say the trees will PROBABLY be alright
because a tree that has had the opportunity to prepare itself for dormancy and
is growing in an area where it can cope with the climate. Problems crop up if the tree has not been able to prepare, or
if its outside it’s usually growing zone..
A distinction has to be made about
temperatures, specifically air temperature and soil temperature. In general,
trees can tolerate quite low air temperatures but their limit for soil temps is
not as extensive. This information is posted on The Morton Arboretum’s website:
ROOT DAMAGE
Root tissues apparently
do not acclimate to temperatures much below freezing and can be killed or
severely injured by soil temperature below 15°F. This is especially true for
shallow rooted plants. Fortunately, the presence of mulch, leaf litter, or snow
cover insulates most soils sufficiently to prevent soil temperatures from
falling much below freezing. Plants with frozen roots may wilt and decline
after growth resumes in the spring.
This hardiness
difference between roots and trunks/branches is the most important reason that
all trees should be heeled in and properly mulched. A bonsai left on a porch
railing or deck bench will experience every fluctuation of air temperature-an almost
certain death sentence. Heeled into a mulch bed, and shaded from sun light, the
temperature around the roots will stay much more steady.
Since temperatures have
been at or near zero for at least two weeks at this point, the root zone of
most bonsai will be fairly close to the danger range. This is a circumstance
that calls for patience-there is little to be done once the trees are in the
situation. Frozen in place bonsai are tough to move, and extra blankets and quilts won’t work.
Only thing to be done is
grit your teeth, cross your fingers and hope. The most frustrating part of the
process is that there is really no human intervention that will be effective.
If for what ever reason the Frost Gods claim a tree, there’s no way the grower
can reverse the ‘damage’.
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One word…Plastics
Among my many admirable
qualities (among them, modesty) is a real sense of frugality. Although my family uses a different term, I
am devoted to getting value for the money I spend. Part of that value for money
is recognizing that I spent money not just for a product, but the container it
came in. Once the product is gone, that
container is not trash. I’m green enough that Id like to keep plastic out of a
land fill, but when I think of plastic recycling, I’m not considering sending bales
of plastic to be processed into other things, the recycling is more immediate.
In one photo you can see
three ways that I have taken plastic items out of the recycle bin and made use
of them in a bonsai or horticultural way. The plastic bottle formerly held dish
washing soap. When it was empty, I unscrewed the cap and drained the last bit
into the new bottle. Once drained as much as it could be, it was filled with a
teaspoon of MIracleGro and plain water-no rinse required. Any residual soap
acts like a wetting agent and makes the water penetrate soil more easily. The
squeeze bottle is easier to direct and use that a standard watering can, and as
a bonus the snap lid on the detergent bottle will prevent spills-an important
safe guard in homes with young children or inquisitive pets.
The name tags are cut
from plastic bottles. The example is from a milk jug but any other container
would work. Written on with a permanent
Sharpie type marker, they last as long as purpose made name tags. At the bottom right of the photo a small Erodium
is being immersion watered in a small plastic container. It originally held
mushrooms. These are surprisingly durable and can be used for training pots and
cutting starters. Ive used them to
portion out soil ingredients in workshops and of course, if you have small
bonsai they make great basin for watering
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