I think it's beautiful but a beautiful tool can be decieving.
A beautiful knife can still cut a finger off.
I say this to keep you safe from the deciet.
I think mostly because of this ...
Which, until you have been through each season, simply can not be a true statement yet.
I don't know to what level you believe this with yet, but even slightly enough to type, is enough to get you caught in the trap of self deception, which is greatly enhanced by things of beauty, especially that we built wisely with our own hands.
For me, this falls more in the realm of wanting something beautiful than something you need as a tool that a greenhouse essentially is.
What I see there, in 8B, with snow cover, has absolutely no need for this tool.
It then becomes more of a problem itself than a fix.
As a tool, what problems is it fixing?
The problems it is creating for me are these....
"Ice forms on bridges first".
Elevated, your trees will be introduced to more freeze thaw cycles than if on the ground. This is a much greater problem than getting solid once because of the expansion and contraction of the soil repeatedly, more friction, more root damage.
The enclosed heat of the sun adds to that problem and creates its own new problems when it comes to what the top is "reading" as nice weather come spring. Without added bottom heat to keep the spring "read" correct, roots will be subjected to another possible freeze.
That's just a small list of horticulture problems...these are "cloaks of confusion" that begin the entire season with inherent guesswork with no possible way to find correct answers.
The direct physical problem I always have concern with in these covered winter situations which was entirely vindicated for me last year, is this very real threat of the unit becoming so encased with snow and ice, you can not physically reach them. Then they dry and die.
People have heart attacks all the time from shoveling snow, it's no joke. Add on somebych that is trying to chip through 6 inches of ice that's blocking the door after that, all of a sudden we are dying to keep are trees from dying.
I don't think it's useless, I just think it's beauty makes us think it's a better tool for bonsai than it really is.
Chicken Coop.
Sorce