Over Wintering a Spruce

[A Random User]

I have a friend that is up in Maine, visiting his dad and he asked me
a question regarding the overwintering of a Spruce bonsai...
So, I thought I would put it out to you guys to answer.

Here his question;

I got my dad a small bonsai tree for his birthday a month ago. It is a spruce bonsai.
The question we have is for winter storage up here in Maine. The temps get down below zero and there is
plenty of snow. We are wondering if we should put it in a sheltered place like under the porch to keep the
direct snow off of it

My dads concern is if we do that the snow may pile up around the porch and not allow a direct airflow.

Do you have any advice on this?

 

[fourteener]

I have a friend that is up in Maine, visiting his dad and he asked me
a question regarding the overwintering of a Spruce bonsai...
So, I thought I would put it out to you guys to answer.

Here his question;

I got my dad a small bonsai tree for his birthday a month ago. It is a spruce bonsai.
The question we have is for winter storage up here in Maine. The temps get down below zero and there is
plenty of snow. We are wondering if we should put it in a sheltered place like under the porch to keep the
direct snow off of it

My dads concern is if we do that the snow may pile up around the porch and not allow a direct airflow.

Do you have any advice on this?

Here in Northern MN, I keep all of my trees on the north side of my house. I put a layer of mulch over and around the pot and I hope the snow gets piled high for some great insulation. Most of my trees are kept in a spot that is surrounded on three sides to keep the wind off of them. I don't think being buried by snow is a problem, how would young trees ever survive if it was? If you put it under a porch make sure critters don't find a nice shelter with free food to snack on. Wind and sun are your winter enemies on top of the cold, under a porch might be a wind tunnel that would dry it out quick.

 

[JudyB]

Spruce, only one of a few trees that I never worry about winter protection for. I don't even bury this one in mulch, it sits on a wind and sun protected bench all winter.

 

[Paradox]

I left mine out all last winter and it didn't seem to mind. If I were in Maine, I would probably put it in an unheated garage just to be safe.