Sorry to hijack this thread, but I'm wondering what the balance is between letting an airlayer overwinter on an in-ground acer versus separation before too much frost. I have a blood good (palmatum) that I airlayered in June that is just starting to poke out roots. They are about 1/4", but they're all around the branch. Diameter of the branch is about thumb thickness. I worry if I separate now it might not have enough water to sprout in Spring, but if I leave it in place the new roots may freeze. Like 0 degrees F freeze. It has not dropped leaves yet. If I separate at/just after leaf drop, I can put it in an unheated garage. I have a seed starting mat there that keeps the bottom of the pots (barely) above 32, and I use hay so that the pots stay pretty close to that. We get some really cold snaps in Central Illinois over winter, but the garage stays pretty alright so long as there is not a polar vortex.
Or am I just likely screwed either way?
Thanks for any advice!
Nick