I'm Torn

[just.wing.it]

What to do.....what to do....I dunno....
I have probably bounced back and forth in my head a dozen times in the last hour....
Its 75f out there. My trees are under my back porch in the same temperature but shaded totally.
Some of the trees are showing signs of life, I noticed as I watered them for first time in a while.
Most notably, the American Hornbeam's branches are turning reddish, but the buds are not swelling yet.
I have about another 4 weeks of nightly lows around 30f, and highs like this or near.

Should I put them out on the benches or leave them in the winter spot?
That is the 1,000,000 bolívar question....your 2 cents will be worth at least $0.53 to me.

 

[leatherback]

Controversial opinion...

In my garden, the trees are on their benches and will stay there unless predictions go towards 20f or below, so more than a regular night frost.
Daytime ranges from 40 to 60 at the moment. Night time, light frost every few days.

Trees exposed to frost all winter stay fairly frost hardy, even if the buds are moving, I find.

 

[sorce]

I'm confident these "around freezing" nights we're seemingly going to have won't effect em.

But I ain't putting out until them buds go.

Sorce

 

[just.wing.it]

Controversial opinion...

In my garden, the trees are on their benches and will stay there unless predictions go towards 20f or below, so more than a regular night frost.
Daytime ranges from 40 to 60 at the moment. Night time, light frost every few days.

Trees exposed to frost all winter stay fairly frost hardy, even if the buds are moving, I find.

I'm confident these "around freezing" nights we're seemingly going to have won't effect em.

But I putting out until them buds go.

Sorce

I tend to agree! Thanks dudes!
I appreciate the confirmation! Lol

 

[Cadillactaste]

I'm more cautious...I would either two step or leave them. I don't turn my greenhouse lights on when they just start to move. I typically try and delay that.

 

[penumbra]

For zone 6B it is time to leave them out.

 

[Cmd5235]

I'm just north of you. The question is- do I dare to do some repotting next week? Or risk missing the window?

 

[Pitoon]

What to do.....what to do....I dunno....
I have probably bounced back and forth in my head a dozen times in the last hour....
Its 75f out there. My trees are under my back porch in the same temperature but shaded totally.
Some of the trees are showing signs of life, I noticed as I watered them for first time in a while.
Most notably, the American Hornbeam's branches are turning reddish, but the buds are not swelling yet.
I have about another 4 weeks of nightly lows around 30f, and highs like this or near.

Should I put them out on the benches or leave them in the winter spot?
That is the 1,000,000 bolívar question....your 2 cents will be worth at least $0.53 to me.

My American Hornbeans were outside when I picked them and have stayed outside while in pots. However winter has been all jacked up just like 2020.

 

[HorseloverFat]

I’ve had to take things “out” to slow them down, recently. I’m in 5b..but it’s reaaally “bright” here..And has been VERY (seasonally) mild.

I, much like what Jelle had outlined, use 20F as a “steppin’ point for my temperates.

Aren’t buds “designed” NOT to take frost/freeze damage... like windshield wiper fluid?

This is how I have been operating.

I could be WAY off

 

[Trenthany]

Being in FL I only start worrying if it “might” frost then I break out the sheets for the bougie and the ficus. Lmao. I’d say go for it unless your trees are in recovery. If you just collected one for instance I would leave it protected a little longer. It’ll all be species and wind, water, sun dependent.

 

[penumbra]

I'm just north of you. The question is- do I dare to do some repotting next week? Or risk missing the window?

You are a bit north and a bit east. It is just a tad warmer where you are. It is re-potting time now. I will be in full swing beginning Monday because it is the soonest I can get to it. I wanted to re-pot today but have way too much going on.

 

[Pitoon]

You are a bit north and a bit east. It is just a tad warmer where you are. It is re-potting time now. I will be in full swing beginning Monday because it is the soonest I can get to it. I wanted to re-pot today but have way too much going on.

I was just digging up so large blueberry bushes today. Not much time left to repot I would say in a couple weeks everything will be leafing out.

 

[luvinthemountains]

Aren’t buds “designed” NOT to take frost/freeze damage

What I understand is that freeze can and will kill swelling buds, but it has to reach very low temperatures for that to happen. When buds start to extend, however, the tissue behind the bud is now much more vulnerable to freeze damage. I think it is once that soft tissue clears the cambium, which is the tree's winter blanket.

I have all of my deciduous out on the bench, or on the ground for nursery pots. That is, except for a trident maple that has all buds extending now and some opening, and a flowering cherry with flower buds opening. Those have been spending every night in an outbuilding for about the past week.

 

[penumbra]

What I understand is that freeze can and will kill swelling buds, but it has to reach very low temperatures for that to happen. When buds start to extend, however, the tissue behind the bud is now much more vulnerable to freeze damage. I think it is once that soft tissue clears the cambium, which is the tree's winter blanket.

I have all of my deciduous out on the bench, or on the ground for nursery pots. That is, except for a trident maple that has all buds extending now and some opening, and a flowering cherry with flower buds opening. Those have been spending every night in an outbuilding for about the past week.

We will not get cold enough long enough to do damage. Japanese maples are an exception and some years a late freeze nips the buds and sets them back a bit. I never lost one though, even at minus 14F.

 

[namnhi]

What to do.....what to do....I dunno....
I have probably bounced back and forth in my head a dozen times in the last hour....
Its 75f out there. My trees are under my back porch in the same temperature but shaded totally.
Some of the trees are showing signs of life, I noticed as I watered them for first time in a while.
Most notably, the American Hornbeam's branches are turning reddish, but the buds are not swelling yet.
I have about another 4 weeks of nightly lows around 30f, and highs like this or near.

Should I put them out on the benches or leave them in the winter spot?
That is the 1,000,000 bolívar question....your 2 cents will be worth at least $0.53 to me.

Low 30f and buds have not move then you have nothing to worry about. This is the first year I can say I have experienced cold winter. You be surprise how cold trees can weather the cold.
You can leave them where they are for a couple more weeks if that give you peace of mind.

 

[Lazylightningny]

I have my larger conifers out on the benches. Smaller conifers and all deciduous are still in the greenhouse.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Wait.. You're supposed to protect trees from frost?!
Makes sense. Oh well. Four years too late now.

 

[leatherback]

Wait.. You're supposed to protect trees from frost?!
Makes sense. Oh well. Four years too late now.

lol.

Agreed though.

YES the roots are more frost sensitive than trees in the ground. But if you grow zone-appropriate species, normal season-appropriate spring frosts are not a huge issue. I have literraly had maples hanging over from frost and ice in the first week of april, first 2 sets of leaves extended (I know, I should have pinched!). And no damage except for the odd ripped leaf.

 

[Animron]

Imo the biggest factor here is size of your pots: bigger (deeper) the pot is, less you should care about frost protection and vice versa. Another factor is species: some species tolerate frost/cold temperatures and are resistant to strong winds way more than other species. It seems that hawthorns don't care much about frost and strong winds, even if already leafed out ...

 

[Woocash]

To be honest, I did a load of repotting in January, including trunk chops and hard root pruning and everything is budding up or breaking out nicely. JMs, yews etc. We’ve had our coldest spell for a few years since then as well.