? re: Overwintering seedlings/tiny saplings

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LoraB Billerica, MA(Zone 6a) Sep 05, 2006

Hi all,
I have a couple a very small trees that are currently in containers. I'm hoping someone here can tell me how to get them thru the winter successfully.
One is a small Kousa dogwood approx 1 foot tall with a very thin trunk and the other 2 are crabapples, also around a foot - foot 1/2 tall.
Should I just plant them and ignore them or should I put them in my basement for the winter?
I'm in z6, NW Boston metro area.
Thanks in advance.
LoraB.

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StarhillForest Illinois, IL(Zone 5b) Sep 05, 2006

Can you plant them outside now? If so, do so. If not, sink the pots into the ground to protect the roots from freezing too badly.

Guy S.

Post #2694618
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McGlory Southeast, NE(Zone 5a) Sep 05, 2006

I had the same question for Zone 5. I have crabapples too.

Post #2694743
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StarhillForest Illinois, IL(Zone 5b) Sep 06, 2006

Pretty much the same answer. But the colder the zone, the more critical it will be to keep those roots protected.

Guy S.

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Windy Belleville, IL(Zone 6b) Sep 06, 2006

When I got my little six to eight inch babies from arbor day I just planted everything in the ground. They will be going dormant, so mulch well to insulate the roots for the winter.
I am tilling the soil to get ready to set all my potted shrubs and trees in the ground for the winter, but then I am in zone 7a. Things just don't do well in my garage with lighting issues.

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willis_mckenna Lombard, IL(Zone 5b) Sep 06, 2006

Mulch heavily also to prevent any frost heave. If your plants are borderline hardy , you might want to overwinter them in an unheated garage in their pots. Water sparingly when it is warmer out and take them outside when the buds are opening. If Crabapples and Kousa I would plant in ground and mulch. You might want to protect them from critters with chicken wire or something while they are so small and within their reach. I overwinter smaller japanese maples in my garage and also ones that aren't hardy here.

Bill

Post #2695906
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LoraB Billerica, MA(Zone 6a) Sep 06, 2006

Thanks, all.
I will go ahead and plant them in the ground. Should I stake them? The wind here is vicious and the trunks are so flimsy.

Lora

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Windy Belleville, IL(Zone 6b) Sep 06, 2006

I try to protect them from the wind by planting them in a temporay place until they can support themselves. Staking sometimes makes them rely on the support and they don't become strong on their own. I plant them near a building or wooden fence so the wind can't whip at them so badly.

Post #2697082
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