Two methods to protect evergreens during winter

[@thereseenriquez9089]

i live in southwest michigan when is it the best time of year to cover my arborvitae

[@GertensGreenhouse]

Hi there, when it's consistently 30 degrees F and colder

[@meghanfoy2646]

What are the pros/cons of doing it either way? What would be the factors to determine which method would be best?

[@GertensGreenhouse]

Hi Meghan, it's really about what works best for you (what's easiest) as they both protect the evergreen. However, the stake method does offer more airflow. If your evergreen is a lot taller than the stakes, then method 1 would be more practical.

[@poboutin]

Is this needed in places where we don’t get snow but sometimes can get as cold as the low 30s in some nights and during Day time might get in the high 40s or low 50s? Sacramento CA to be exact.

[@GertensGreenhouse]

You shouldn't need it but it would be a good idea to contact a local nursery in your area that has better knowledge of your climate.

[@brightphoebesays]

OK. I'm in zone 2. Last fall I wrapped my 5' Skybound cedar up pretty snugly, thinking it would keep warmer inside, and be more protected if I wrapped it tight. Maybe that's what I did wrong. I took the burlap off mid March when the snow was melting and it looked like we might not have any more new snow, once it was apparent that spring was here. It was green to start. I waited to water it until the ground surface started to dry. Now it has many brown leaves. What did I do wrong? It's a zone 2 tree according to the tag. : (

[@GertensGreenhouse]

Hi there, it's best not wrap trees too snug. They do not come out of winter dormancy until the frost is out of the soil. That means watering will not help them as they cannot take it up. As for the brown leaves, if it was newly planted last year, did you water it up until the ground froze? These cedars need water especially for the first 2 to 3 years. Don't give up yet!

[@brightphoebesays]

@@GertensGreenhouse Thank you. Yes I watered it all summer and gave it one last big drink just before the freeze set in. I guess it was the tight wrapping and unwrapping too soon. Thanks! It's planted in 1/3 native sandy rocky soil, 1/3 Miracle Grow potting soil, and 1/3 bark mulch. When I first planted it last May I think the hole wasn't big enough (1 1/2'), so I dug it out again and made the hole 2 feet wide and put lots of goodies in there for it that would feel more familiar. Cedars don't grow wild up here. It's only pine and spruce and the soil is quite poor. Where I'm from on the coast there's a lot of humus.

[@brightphoebesays]

@@GertensGreenhouse I'm giving it 6 liters of water, with 20-20-20 fertilizer in it, once a week. Is that enough? Too much? Should I top dress with sheep manure?

[@brightphoebesays]

Did some more research and it seems the tree might have been overly rootbound from the store. I got it at Can Tire, and it was taller than the nursery plants of the same price over at Dunvegan Gardens. I tried to loosen the root ball with a cultivator and my fingers, I didn't cut any root off with a saw. But it was very solid, it didn't loosen much at all, just a few stringy threads of root came loose. I planted it that way. I also amended the soil I backfilled the hole with, using bone and blood meal and bits of tree spike. Maybe the roots got burnt? There's so much to know about gardening, it's a wonder anyone tries to grow anything without proper training!!

[@GertensGreenhouse]

@@brightphoebesays Oh wow, sorry to hear about that! I'm not familiar with that particular store but locally owned garden centers are generally your best bet. Gertens also has a 1 year guarantee on our trees/shrubs/perennials. Gardening is a lot of trial and error and a great way to be outside! I hope this doesn't sour you on gardening.

[@MarliBhyat]

When do one actual start to wrap the evergreens?

[@GertensEcommerce]

You can wrap them now or hold off until our temps remain cold, 32 degrees and colder.

[@MarliBhyat]

To confirm if the day temperature is 32 degrees? Currently our night/mornings are below 32 degrees, but during the day above.@@GertensEcommerce

[@GertensGreenhouse]

When it's consistently 30 degrees F and colder

[@larrygross1640]

Question. I noticed there is some dead looking limbs on the right side bottom of that evergreen on the video. We just a couple evergreens planted. One has the same dead looking or brown on the bottom. Will this grow back. And what can be done to help it. It’s mid fall here in Ontario. Almost ready to wrap. Thanks.

[@lightningfisher8177]

make sure you newly planted bushes are well wartered soaked that first year is important even during winter and well mulched

[@GertensGreenhouse]

The brown areas will not green up, however, @lightningfisher is correct in that you must water all the way up to ground freeze. In Minnesota, that can be end of November. And mulch, mulch, mulch.

[@TonyLinSh]

Do we need to that in Seattle?

[@GertensEcommerce]

Hello, yes. In particular newly planted (less than 3 years old).

[@TonyLinSh]

but I had asked everyone I meet (neighbors, gardeners, homedepot clerks, ...), and they all say it is not necessary in Seattle.@@GertensEcommerce

[@t-bone6467]

Since they're in containers, will the soil freeze and kill the roots?

[@GertensEcommerce]

Hello, no. On our lots they are covered or taken to our greenhouses.

[@t-bone6467]

​@@GertensEcommerceok thanks

[@SharoPeikof]

These trees are at the store and will end up planted in the ground sooner or later. :)