Been meaning to make a post of this, not that BT would even need it here, I'm not sure but I wanted to see what would happen.

 If ya's remember this tree, I nearly killed it by drowning and then it had tiny caterpillar larvae infestation of some bug, lost all of its leaves and sprouted all new limbs and leaves.  

 

For those with no previous knowledge and might want to know, I have a really high water table during rainy conditions which was pretty much all summer this year. The tub has an open bottom and had to be raised for drainage.  I guess it's only purpose is a raised bed border.  Easy to weed-eat around.  I'm thinking a poured-in-place concrete ring for future raised beds.

Hardware cloth 3' tall for the cylinder and fastened with some black cable ties to set around the tree.  I guess any wire would work if it's what one has.  Then dry wood chips were just tossed in with a shovel and covered to keep dry.

Not sure if I should wrap it with something or not.  We have had some cold but the real stuff I think is coming soon.  This is the only tree I have wintering outdoors.

Just thinking how easy come Spring if this were an in-ground tree, to cut the ties, remove the wire and all the wood chips falling out...ready made mulch layer!

Look at all that open yard space!  Not for long haha. :)

    

I think a little barbed wire....maybe a moat, and you'll be all set!  Winter is coming, after all.

Edited:  Just in case, with the hostilities as of late and all, I mean no offense whatsoever.  Merely stating that it looks awesome...it's like a fig castle.

Charlie, great job! You should have plenty of figs next year. I use to wrap my container and orchard trees. I stopped doing that 3 years ago. My climate is always up and down. Last month we were in the low 20s at night and 40s by day. We broke record lows for Charlotte! Now, in December we have 28 and 30 at night and high 50s and sunny by day! Come next month, we will be back in the 20s and ice storms but sunny. My climate is very unique.

Back when I use to wrap my trees, they would heat up under the leaves and burlap. The main issue with my climate is it's very sunny in the Fall and winter! If it wasn't for the sunny, we would be in "Barney"!!!!

A moat with trophy bass would be ok.  Come to think of it a kiddie pool system with wicking grow bags is sort of like a moat.  Somebody here did that with good results but I can't remember who.   So yes I was planning on trying it next year. But not with this BT.  It will either live or die in this spot.

Dennis it sounds just like the climate here, up in the 60's this weekend, next week who knows!?

My imagination sometimes gets the best of me.  I wonder how the tree looks now under all those chips?  Is it dry enough?  Is it molded to oblivion? Does it look the same as it was?  What will I find when unwrapped?  The suspense is killing me and it's not even winter yet.