repotting in winter

I have seen a lot of guys repotting trees this winter on instagram, facebook, forums etc... its been mostly junipers but other trees as well and even some deciduous species. From dec. To now. These guys are in america. These repottings have taken place as club activites, such as repotting classes and in private nurseries. A couple of the people I am talking about are known professionals. I just don't see how repotting is taking place in the dead middle of winter. I have two junipers that desperately need repotting and I'm not sure if I should wait until spring or do it now while they are dormant and add sufficient protection, afterwards. The temps here in NC have been in single digits the past few days. How are they getting away with repotting in winter? When should I repot my junipers? Just wanna hesr from you guys as to about what your repotting schedule is for different species, depending on where you live. I'm in north carolina and I repot everything in spring and fall. Deciduous get repotted right before bud break.while buds are swelling. I do not have much expierence repotting junipers and pines.but have had success with them in spring. (Really small nursery junipers)

Repotting season is coming a bit late here in the SE but will be here soon. Ideally, repotting is done when the roots are active but the top isn't (relatively). Trees repotted in winter need to be protected from temps cold enough to freeze the soil, and are at an increased risk of over watering...a heated greenhouse is nice to have if you're going to do this. I usually start repotting deciduous trees around now...it was 8 degrees in my backyard two mornings ago, so I'm gonna wait a bit. I'll probably start in a week or two and protect the pot soil from freezing as needed. Pines are next, usually some time in March...I wait for the buds to swell a bit. Junipers are last. They are easily the toughest of the bunch and can be repotted almost year round, but prefer warmer soil. I've done them in February when it was still cold/freezing out, and I've done them in late April, when it was in the mid 80's F. After care is the key. For you, I'd wait until the temps in your area are moderating...maybe a month or 6 wks from now, then do an appropriate repot.

The timing depends on where your trees will be after the work is done. If you are not protecting them, then wait until the climate is right, meaning unlikely to freeze. If you have Winter protection, meaning protection from freezing and strong wind, then you can repot them now. Junipers are incredibly tough so there is not a whole lot to be worried about unless you have a weak tree to begin with.

Since my climate is rather mild I've been repotting since christmas, just had to protect things from freezing when temps got low, but our low this winter was 28 so not much is needed.

Well I used to protect my trees in winter with an un heated garage but we moved over the summer and now I have an unheated garage but it doesn't have a door. You just pull right in. 3 walls and a roof. I protect my trees in there now but it doesn't keep the soil from freezing. It just protects them from the wind, frost and other harsh winter elements. On nights where the temps get really really low, I bring them in the house and put them into a shut off room and have the heat vents closed and blocked. I think it still stays too warm tho. So I don't think I would be able to protect any thing sufficiently enough if I started repotting now. What do you guys think? I have heard repotting junipers in winter is best but I'll probably wait until mid spring and mist them. They are very healthy, green and extremely root bound into their five gallon nursery pots. I'll repot all my deciduous right as bud swelling occurs like usual. I guess you can repot a lot of stuff almost anytime of year with the right aftercare? Ha thanks for the replies so far!

We live in a big country. People down south gets to starts several months before us northerners. It makes us jealous that other get to begin so soon. In April-may I'll get to do root work.

Dav4 said:

For you, I'd wait until the temps in your area are moderating...maybe a month or 6 wks from now, then do an appropriate repot.

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Are you reffering to my junipers or everything in general? I'm itching so bad to get these junipers repotted lol. Not gonna rush a tree to death tho! The highs for the rest of the week will be about 45 and the lows around 25.

fourteener said:

We live in a big country. People down south gets to starts several months before us northerners. It makes us jealous that other get to begin so soon. In April-may I'll get to do root work.

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Yeah I understand! It would be really frustrating I'm sure! Its right around the corner for us here in the south east but I'm still feeling like it will be forever. This will be my 3rd spring as a bonsai hobbyist so almost everything i have needs to be repotted!

benw3790 said:

Are you reffering to my junipers or everything in general? I'm itching so bad to get these junipers repotted lol. Not gonna rush a tree to death tho! The highs for the rest of the week will be about 45 and the lows around 25.

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That was for the junipers...deciduous trees should be done sooner, as they begin to bud out.

I started re potting deciduous trees 2 weeks ago and junipers today. Tips just started showing a light green. Very lucky out here!! One of my Liquid Ambar's started leafing out and my Trident just started...early this year.

Dav4 said:

That was for the junipers...deciduous trees should be done sooner, as they begin to bud out.

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Thanks.bud! The deciduous trees are all still pretty dormant! I imagine it'll be atleast a month before they start swelling!!

fraser67 said:

I started re potting deciduous trees 2 weeks ago and junipers today. Tips just started showing a light green. Very lucky out here!! One of my Liquid Ambar's started leafing out and my Trident just started...early this year.

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Heck yeah man cali is already on a roll!!! Lol

benw3790 said:

Heck yeah man cali is already on a roll!!! Lol

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Gulf Coast too! I repotted about 20 trees over the past week. We're well into spring.

Scott

North GA, including metro Atlanta are due to get anywhere between 2 and 6+ inches of snow in the next day. I usually start repotting my maples in late February (they do need some protection afterwards) but not this year. On Monday, I planted out about 20 trident seedlings I got from Matt Ouwinga, mainly because they were showing signs of breaking dormancy. Well, they're under an inch of ice right now with more on the way. I'm sure they'll be fine, but I'm ready for some spring weather, please.

Ditto...everything is canceled today, which means we'll probably just have rain.

I don't give in to the rush to repot if it can be delayed. Waiting until the trees are showing signs of life helps eliminate the bonsai shuffle. So far, only the hawthorn seems to be waking up in my garden. A few JBP candles may be moving a little, but barely.

I suspect the 70s forecasted for next week will start things along...I'm ready for some better weather.

We still have a couple more nights of 4 below and 5 below predicted. No temps above 32 in the forecast for the next 10 days. Everything outdoors is sold asleep and frozen solid. Trees in the greenhouse are beginning to wake. Chojubai are flowering. There's some bud swelling beginning on some maples. Moss is going viral. So, while its an arctic blast outside, its repotting time inside, for me. I get to be selective at first and do the stiff I want, then hit the stuff that is on schedule, and finally get frantic and hit everything I can as the window slams shut on me.....

If I lived in MI, I'd probably spend the entire winter in the greenhouse!

So far, just a little freezing rain. I'll take pix if it starts to get interesting...

Cold and snowy here...things are getting interesting...