Register  |   | 
 
Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Suggestions for "light" winter protection?
 
 


Reply
  Author   Comment  
kudzu9

Registered:
Posts: 35
Posted Reply with quote  #1 
I live in the Pacific NW, Zone 8.  Our winters are mainly drizzly rain with temps in the 30's-40's.  However, it will get below freezing a couple of times each winter, and may even hit 20F.  I have four established fig trees in the ground that do fine with no winter protection.  However, I did plant two small (18" tall) ones about 3 months ago (a Nero and a Deanne).  I don't want to bother with wrapping these heavily, but I would like to give them some modest protection this first winter.  Does anyone have a suggestion for what to do that would be simple...and hopefully not be a haven for mice?
loslunasfarms

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 380
Posted Reply with quote  #2 
4 inches of straw.
texascockatoos

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 384
Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Hi Kudzu9,
I am in zone 7b (Central Texas) with winters like yours and planted a few figs in the ground as well this year.  We have nights that can fall below freezing but quickly warm back up the next day, so I don't want to do anything labor intensive for just a day or two.  Because I am on top of a hill I have to worry about the wind more than anything.  

I use card board boxes for protection.  I have found that frito-lay has boxes the same size in width but different heights.  I guess a box for small bags and a box for big bags of chips.  Anyway, I weight the flaps down on the first box with big rocks, then loosely close the flaps over the fig, then slip a second box on top of the first box closing the flaps over the top of the fig tightly.  Because the 2 boxes are the same width, the second box fits snugly over the first box which is weighted down with the rocks and everything makes it through the night just fine.
If it looks like another cold night, I'll just open the box (unfold the flaps) and then after dark, close it again.  On days that I don't have to worry about dipping below freezing, the boxes are folded flat and stored in the garage.
__________________
Cathy
Central, Texas (Zone 8A)

http://www.texascockatoos.com
texascockatoos

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 384
Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Hi Alan,
Plus the price is right.
__________________
Cathy
Central, Texas (Zone 8A)

http://www.texascockatoos.com
james

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,653
Posted Reply with quote  #5 
I'm not too far from Cathy.  The big issue I have is wind.  We've had a couple of near freezing night time temps that have already crisped up the leaves on my trees.... because the cooler temps come with a lot of wind.  If your trees are small, you might want to find some five gallon buckets and turn them over on top of the trees.  You can set a brick or two on top to weight it down, then mulch around the base of the bucket.  When the weather is warm, it comes off very easily.

~james
__________________
In containers - Littleton, CO (zone 5b)
In ground - N.E of Austin, TX (zone 8b) 

2016 Wish List:  Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr, Viōlette Dāuphine.  Iranian figs are always welcome.
james

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,653
Posted Reply with quote  #6 
btw... one can usually find five gallon buckets for free at bakeries (frosting and stuff come in them).
__________________
In containers - Littleton, CO (zone 5b)
In ground - N.E of Austin, TX (zone 8b) 

2016 Wish List:  Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr, Viōlette Dāuphine.  Iranian figs are always welcome.
Previous Topic | Next Topic
Print
Reply