Just wondering, I have a handful of tress in an unheated garage that are pushing buds like crazy. They are mostly Maples and Elms and one of the Maples is even leafing out already. My question is.....should I repot, or is it too early? My garage right now is between 40 and fifty degrees most of the time. I don't have any natural light in there but do have fluorescents.
Too Early to repot????
- Thread starter chappy56
- Start date
Dav4
Drop Branch Murphy
- Messages
- 13,313
- Reaction score
- 31,091
- USDA Zone
- 6a
The safest time to re-pot deciduous trees is when the buds are beginning to swell, so yes, if you are planning to re-pot any of them, now would be best. The bigger issue is that you now have 2-3 months left of freezing winter weather to navigate before you can safely leave your trees outside, which is really where they need to be if they are in leaf. Ideally, you would have a frost free greenhouse or something similar to keep them in. Good luck,
Dave
Dave
Is your garage attached or detached? I'm in the DC area, which is probably warmer than your area, and yet my garage is staying between 30 and 40. The only thing leafing out are my flowering quince, which is natural for the species (as far as I can tell).
You might want to consider opening the garage door to cool it off a bit. I've got a min-max thermometer with a remote sensor so that I can see the temperature outside as well as in the garage.
You might want to consider opening the garage door to cool it off a bit. I've got a min-max thermometer with a remote sensor so that I can see the temperature outside as well as in the garage.
Dav4
Drop Branch Murphy
- Messages
- 13,313
- Reaction score
- 31,091
- USDA Zone
- 6a
The trees are breaking dormancy now- if they must be re-potted it is much safer to do it now then when they are in leaf. The roots will be fine if the soil is well draining and not overly wet. Again, the bigger issue is providing the light levels the trees will need now that new leaves are growing, and I doubt your flourescent lights are adequate. If you don't have a frost free, light filled location available, I would get the trees outside during the day if the temps are warm enough, then get them back in garage to prevent frost damage. I've heard of some folks keeping their trees on carts to facilitate the moving in/out of their garage. Good luck,
Dave
Dave
xghostx
Yamadori
There is a nice write up in this months twig about repotting. Check it out.
http://www.pfmbonsai.com/newsletters/FebruaryTWIG.pdf
http://www.pfmbonsai.com/newsletters/FebruaryTWIG.pdf
robert1955
Sapling
I live in SoCal, and i am taking the last week of this month off to repot. I have some plants I want to part with. Need to get pics posted if anyone in this area want them.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
If the buds have popped open then don't repot, if they are just starting to swell you can. However they are forcasting an artic blast comming down by the middle of the week, so--what you repot must be sheltered from this weather. There is an alternitive with the Maples. Maples do quite well if repoted in early summer after the leaves have hardened off about the time you defoliate.
