Eighty degrees yesterday and today. Low 30's coming this Wed and Thursday.

I may have already made the mistake of planting in ground nine fig trees. Most of them
are 4-6 feet tall and not to field out yet.

So would you try to protect them or let them tough it out? These are trees that I have
either read about being cold hardy up north or I wanted to try them out. I thought the
freezing temps were over and would have some time to acclimate. I was wrong.

I decided not to wait until Good Friday (one more week) and already transferred a few things outside. My raised beds have green house covers. I'll probably cover the one VdB in the ground with something for those days.

In your case, with big trees, I'd just heap extra deep mulch around the base.

Mike, if I were a religious man, I'd pray that it didn't hit 32... so I'd definitely protect them.
Tallahassee is forecast a low of 45. Still, too close for comfort.

I think the roots and trunks will be fine, it is the tender new leaves I think will suffer is anything.

Mike,

I am debating on this issue too.
After taking everything out yesterday and now this?

I think since the buds haven't broken I am leaning towards letting it ride. I might just leave all the chips on the table and gamble it all.

With help I can move all 110 pots back in the garage again. Don't want to but I can. Its the inground ones.

Mike,

Here's the least you can do.
Wrap some of the bud tips with newspaper and cover with clear or white plastic. I know it's a lot of work but it should help.

Rafed, that is a good suggestion. Also, I am think about putting a large trash bag over the trees that I can and securing underneath
the limbs. I would have to remove it early Wed and again Thurs morning before the sun hits it.

Mike, this will be the ultimate test...Bag the growing tips and let them have it!

Frank, you may have the best suggestion so far.

Mike, are you getting wind and/or rain with the cold?  Is the cold be sustained or will it dip down for an hour or two?

I do not like the idea of a black plastic bag, especially if your trees are newly planted.  The bag will act as a huge sail which could pull on the roots.  If you can erect a quick frame around the tree (using stakes or wire mesh, etc.) then drape a sheet or blanket over the frame, it might help increase the temp immediately around the trees.  If your containers are all together, the potting mix will hold on to the heat it absorbs during the day.  Again, you can drop a sheet over them.

James, I will move the potted trees back into the garage and they will be fine.

Its the 10 I just put in ground last week. They are 4-6 feet tall and only one is real bushy, say three feet out. We will have rain/thunderstorms
tomorrow and Tues morning. Then the cold air and real windy for Tues afternoon and evening. Then drop into the low 30's Tues night/Wed morning
and mid 30's Thurs morning.

Drape Christmas lights around the trees in the branches.  Cover with a blanket then with a waterproof tarp or plastic.  Weight down the edges so they don't blow off.  Turn on the lights when it gets below 50.  The rope lights are the best because they wont burn the leaves.  If you have incandescents be sure the bulbs don't touch the leaves or anything flammable.  Even LED lights will give you enough heat to keep the leaves from freezing.

Hi newandawg,
I would tie the branches to the trunk and put a plastic bag over the tree.
For a week, you could leave the ties and after the last cold is gone remove them.
The clear plastic bag could be left upon if you punch one or two holes in it for the heat to flow out .
If you can use three posts to hold the plastic - if the plastic touches the leaves - those leaves may burn .

That's the kind of condition that kills new shoot for me here in Texas. If it is a short spell , they usually come back. but the damage might be done on the new and fragile shoots and top thin branches.

Hi Mike

Black trash bag on a fig tree is a bad move, last year I tried that for 2 days during a similar cold snap, leaves and brebas turned black and brebas eventually dropped. Go with the clear plastic. Or the christmas lights better yet. Good luck!

boy, i thot i'd avoided the shuffle. my trees were outside getting used to the sun. i started digging holes but had,'t actually put any inground.

suddenly, it's supposed to hit 32 tonite, so they all came in,  despite back pain.

good luck .

Mike,

I would stay away from any type of plastic, period.  I've tried plastic bags and over turned garbage cans, doesn't seem to work very well especially if a leave comes in contact with freezing cold plastic it is as sure as gone.  A simple cotton sheet draped over the tree works OK.  Even better is an old blanket or light weight quilt.  With the heavier coverings like a blanket or quilt, a fabric blend such as cotton/polyester works in this case, doesn't have to be 100% cotton.

Good luck.

mike, i need to know what you did for your inground trees n how it works.

it hit 27 last nite. my trees will be inground soon.   this may happen again next year. the trees will be fully leafed out by this time next year.

i'll need to know how to protect them.