Do you also bury your nice pots under mulch with trees in them?
Yup. If the pot you're worried about was made by Sara, its entirely frost proof. I've got several of her pots that I have been burying under mulch for a couple of decades now. Have never had an issue with them.. I have found over that time that burying them in mulch can help keep white mineral stains from getting too bad. when you bury the pot, make sure it is sitting above the ground--as in set it on bricks before adding the mulch. That insures a dead spot under the bottom of the pot that will allow drainage, which is critical in overwintering around here.
There is an exception--if the pot has an incurved lip which curves over the soil surface, it could be subject to breaking if it gets cold enough. Those incurved rims are nice, but as the soil expands when it freezes, the space underneath leaves no room for the expansion. Soil puts pressure on it and "snap".
The leaves are dead but the branches themselves still look ok. Plenty of nice buds there, ready to burst out in the spring!
Global Warming???
They are not dead. Their leaves have been frozen. Roots SHOULD be OK, however if they were left on the benches unprotected in 18 F temps, you may have some root damage. The leaves froze because the trees were/are still active. The tree isn't fully dormant, which means the roots are not fully prepared for deep freeze temperatures. This cold trough of air is dangerous because it has arrived early, before trees have become fully hardened off for it.
homeguides.sfgate.com
They are not dead. Their leaves have been frozen. Roots SHOULD be OK, however if they were left on the benches unprotected in 18 F temps, you may have some root damage. The leaves froze because the trees were/are still active. The tree isn't fully dormant, which means the roots are not fully prepared for deep freeze temperatures. This cold trough of air is dangerous because it has arrived early, before trees have become fully hardened off for it.
You Chinese elm was most likely damaged just as your maples have been. It's just not showing it yet. Chinese elms are less cold hardy than maples...
BTW, a plastic cover is the WORST thing you can use to protect trees. It traps condensation, which freezes on the under surface of the plastic against the plant, as well as on branches and twigs. both can cause dieback on those areas. Plastic also doesn't provide much, or any, insulation from cold.
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