Are brugs hardy in zone 8a?

I just scored a gorgeous 6' tall yellow brug for an unbelievable price. The man I bought it from told me it needed to be planted in the ground, but I have always taken my brugs in for the winter. Are they hardy in zone 8a? I live very close to the beach, but they are somewhat protected by trees and other shrubs. Any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks, ibartoo

ibartoo, by my own experience. Some are root-hardy in my zone. I've grown for several years. Though, placement has alot to account for whether it will survive my winter....we've had occassional drop in 20's F. some time lower. My NOID brugs do come back. If a local grower said it's hardy, I go with his/her advice. Good lucks. And enjoy.
Happy gardening.

ibartoo,

Hey there! I'm right up the road from you and the answer to your question is a definite yes! Mine do fine and I'm colder here than Pawley's. They always grow better in the ground, too. Unfortunately, I have wa-a-y too much sun and fight for a little filtered sun for my brugs so I'm jealous of your trees.

Good luck,
Barbara

Thanks Barbara, I am going to leave them in the ground this year. ( I think) That will give me lots more room in the green house. When do you cut yours back? I have plenty of filtered sun. I left lots of oaks when I cleared my lot. I am thinking I have far more dappled shade than full sun. Now however, I can plant a whole new flowerbed. Thanks so much. Ibartoo

ibartoo,

If I want cuttings, I'll take them in the fall just before the first frost. I usually wait till they've been killed down by frost/freeze to cut them back to the ground. They do get really ugly once the frost hits them. Then I just cut back to a couple of inches above the ground and mulch heavily with pinestraw. Then about April 1st or so (once we're not going to get a frost), I push away a little of the pinstraw and begin the waiting process. Some take longer to start poking through and some seem to go quickly. I really don't water in the winter as we tend to get enough rain (guess you could give them a little sprinkle now and then if it's really dry), but once they start pushing through in Spring, I start watering again. Once they get going I'll start with fertilizer and such.

This has been a tough summer for brugs with all the bugs, slugs, catepillars, grasshoppers and EVERYTHING I've had! I still have some cuttings that I haven't yet gotten in the ground if you can believe it.

Wish I had a greenhouse, but I'm in a "cookie cutter" subdivision with an HOA which doesn't allow them. Where are you at Pawley's??

Barbara

Barbara, I am just off the south causeway, just before you get onto the island. My hoa allows greenhouses if you can't see if from the main streets and I am in a circle. I am planning to put in another small greenhouse this fall. I grew lots of plumeria from seed and I will need lots of protection this year.
I couldn't figure out what was eating my brugs seedlings this year until I discovered the slugs! Hubby couldn't believe I wanted to buy beer to pour in the yard! LOL
I have just been given some new cuttings to root this week so I know what you mean. I will be starting some now. I hope they will make it in the ground this winter.


Linda