Solid ice cube

[Kodama16]

So first time ever. Even with protection in a garage my maples froze solid like ice cubes. Should I defrost them or let them be?

 

[Nybonsai12]

You mean the soil is frozen solid?

 

[Kodama16]

Feels like it. Yea I'm pretty shocked.

 

[Dav4]

So first time ever. Even with protection in a garage my maples froze solid like ice cubes. Should I defrost them or let them be?

Maple roots, being fairly shallow, will have the soil around them freeze solid in the landscape/woods/forests/mountains, etc., every winter for months on end and are fine with it . My maples are outside on the ground with leaves piled round the pots...it was 2 F this AM...my trees will be fine and so will yours. Leave them alone.

 

[Kodama16]

Maple roots, being fairly shallow, will have the soil around them freeze solid in the landscape/woods/forests/mountains, etc., every winter for months on end and are fine with it . My maples are outside on the ground with leaves piled round the pots...it was 2 F this AM...my trees will be fine and so will yours. Leave them alone.

Thank you. I figure they would just need some back up reference. We never have freezes like this! They say this was coldest night in like 30 years or something for us.

 

[MACH5]

Yes completely agree with Dave. My advice is do not get in the habit of cuddling Japanese maples. No need to. Of course you don't want them exposed to bitter cold winds in 10F on top of a bench but they are way tougher than you might think. Nothing wrong with these trees being frozen solid in a protected area. They will be fine!

 

[Dav4]

Thank you. I figure they would just need some back up reference. We never have freezes like this! They say this was coldest night in like 30 years or something for us.

Yes completely agree with Dave. My advice is do not get in the habit of cuddling Japanese maples. No need to. Of course you don't want them exposed to bitter cold winds in 10F on top of a bench but they are way tougher than you might think. Nothing wrong with these trees being frozen solid in a protected area. They will be fine!

I never expected to see 2 F all the way down in GA, either. Still, the only trees that ever see my garage are either bare root seedling that have just been potted up or recently heavily root worked trees in February. In the Baton Rouge area, maples will happily over winter outside...the most protection they might ever need is being placed on the ground with some leaves as mulch for a few days. I'd get them out of your garage now and find a place for them to spend the rest of what little winter you have left (I've been in Baton Rouge this time of year when the Magnolias and daffodils are all in bloom). The last thing you want is for your maples to start growing now as you'll have to protect them from freezing temps until your real growing season begins. Good luck!

 

[GrimLore]

All of our Maples are against the fence for wind protection, pots on the ground, frozen solid and will be just fine. Maples tolerate anything except wind. Wind will not kill them but greatly hampers the development and leaf quality when they "wake up" where we live.

Grimmy

 

[sikadelic]

I had some live oak acorns that had cracked open in the fridge and made their way to a sprouting pot. The soil was hard as a rock today. I guess I can assume they won't be sprouting this year? Im also a bit concerned that my bald cypress are going to kick the bucket as well since they were in grow boxes without drainage.

 

[Kodama16]

Cool deal. Yea not suppose to be bad tonight. I already moved them all back to there normal locations. Normally I don't think or worrie about them in the winter but I never had one freeze so I wasn't sure what to expect.
Ill put this in the learning files: )

 

[PaulH]

Mine freeze solid several times every winter. I keep them on the benches with no protection and have never had a problem. I do make sure they are watered if a freeze is forecast.

 

[Don Blackmond]

So first time ever. Even with protection in a garage my maples froze solid like ice cubes. Should I defrost them or let them be?

Don't worry; its not healthy for you.

Maples can freeze solid and be just fine. It sounds like your trees are protected from the real threats; extreme temperature fluctuations and cold, drying winds.

As long as your trees are healthy, keeping them frozen in an unheated garage is the ideal way to overwinter them.

So, don't give it a second thought.

 

[Poink88]

Don't worry; its not healthy for you.

Very good advise Don!