Mark Hill wrote:

Thanks all for your advice and encouragement.

I'll dig and mulch my trees this weekend, in a spot that won't get much
sunshine or wind.

Another question ..... How about drainage ??

Not an issue once things are frozen.


My soil is rather clay like.
Puddles form in driving rain which slowly drains away.
Should I dig a deeper hole and put a layer of mulch below the pots, put the
pots/trees in the hole then mulch over the pot up to the first branch?


I wouldn't go to the trouble.


I'm assuming if they're covered in snow, they'll be frozen and won't require
water ..... right ??


Yep.


Mark
It's going to be difficult looking at those snow mounds, knowing my "babies"
are buried beneath.
Am I allowed to peek ??

Don't give in to the temptation to mess with them once they're locked in for the
winter. If they're buried in snow the snow will crystalize after some time and you
will risk breaking branches if you mess around. After my first winter I couldn't
resist getting my trees out as early as possible, and I broke a pot in addition to
some branches in trying to wrestle them free from the snow. It isn't worth it.

Just relax, get a few tropicals to work on during the winter, and wait.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

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++++Sponsored, in part, by Carl Rosner++++
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Thanks Carl

Looks like I've got a weekend ahead of me on the business end of a shovel.
Now I know why one shouldn't accumulate more than two dozen trees !!

I already use the bamboo skewer trick to check my watering. I started this
after I over watered my elm, almost to the point of death. I'll continue
using them throughout the winter months.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Internet Bonsai Club ] On Behalf Of
Carl L Rosner
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 4:14 PM
To:
Subject: [IBC] Why Mulch ??

Mark:
If you are going to dig a hole, you might want to put a few inches of
pebbles in the bottom for drainage. The mulch could stay too wet. I do
suggest that you put in long bamboo skewers into the root ball halfway
between the trunk and the edge of the pot. When you mulch the bamboo
skewer should stick out above the mulch. Pull the skewer out on a
weekly basis. If the dirty end is wet, then you know not to water...
The skewer may freeze into the rootball in the pot. They definitely do
not need watering. Figure that you might have to water several times
during the winter and maybe not at all. That's why you check!!! 8-)

Carl L. Rosner

Mark Hill wrote:

Thanks all for your advice and encouragement.

I'll dig and mulch my trees this weekend, in a spot that won't get much
sunshine or wind.

Another question ..... How about drainage ??
My soil is rather clay like.
Puddles form in driving rain which slowly drains away.
Should I dig a deeper hole and put a layer of mulch below the pots, put the
pots/trees in the hole then mulch over the pot up to the first branch?

I'm assuming if they're covered in snow, they'll be frozen and won't
require
water ..... right ??








************************************************** **************************
****
++++Sponsored, in part, by Carl Rosner++++
************************************************** **************************
****
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Carl Rosner++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Thanks Carl

Looks like I've got a weekend ahead of me on the business end of a shovel.
Now I know why one shouldn't accumulate more than two dozen trees !!

I already use the bamboo skewer trick to check my watering. I started this
after I over watered my elm, almost to the point of death. I'll continue
using them throughout the winter months.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Internet Bonsai Club ] On Behalf Of
Carl L Rosner
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 4:14 PM
To:
Subject: [IBC] Why Mulch ??

Mark:
If you are going to dig a hole, you might want to put a few inches of
pebbles in the bottom for drainage. The mulch could stay too wet. I do
suggest that you put in long bamboo skewers into the root ball halfway
between the trunk and the edge of the pot. When you mulch the bamboo
skewer should stick out above the mulch. Pull the skewer out on a
weekly basis. If the dirty end is wet, then you know not to water...
The skewer may freeze into the rootball in the pot. They definitely do
not need watering. Figure that you might have to water several times
during the winter and maybe not at all. That's why you check!!! 8-)

Carl L. Rosner

Mark Hill wrote:

Thanks all for your advice and encouragement.

I'll dig and mulch my trees this weekend, in a spot that won't get much
sunshine or wind.

Another question ..... How about drainage ??
My soil is rather clay like.
Puddles form in driving rain which slowly drains away.
Should I dig a deeper hole and put a layer of mulch below the pots, put the
pots/trees in the hole then mulch over the pot up to the first branch?

I'm assuming if they're covered in snow, they'll be frozen and won't
require
water ..... right ??








************************************************** **************************
****
++++Sponsored, in part, by Carl Rosner++++
************************************************** **************************
****
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Carl Rosner++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

In a message dated 11/24/2003 4:14:27 PM Eastern Standard Time, writes:

Mark:
If you are going to dig a hole, you might want to put a few
inches of
pebbles in the bottom for drainage.

Be advised that many of you live in geographies where the water tables are high. In such regions, you might wake one morning to find that you tree has been sitting in water.

Cold frames are great when they are constructed in the right locations with proper drainage. Consult local practitioners for the soundest wintering advice.

Cordially,

Michael Persiano
http://members.aol.com/iasnob/index.html

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Carl Rosner++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Thanks Craig.

Thankfully I have a couple of ficus that'll keep me
busy all winter. If only I could convince them to grow faster !!

I've also stuck a few outdoor perennials into pots and I'm trying to make
them last the winter.

Guess I'll pour through my mountain of bonsai books and re-read them all
again.

Isn't winter a boring season ??
Maybe I should take up curling !!

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Cowing ]
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 5:07 PM
To: Mark Hill
Cc:
Subject: [IBC] Why Mulch ??



Mark Hill wrote:

Thanks all for your advice and encouragement.

I'll dig and mulch my trees this weekend, in a spot that won't get much
sunshine or wind.

Another question ..... How about drainage ??

Not an issue once things are frozen.


My soil is rather clay like.
Puddles form in driving rain which slowly drains away.
Should I dig a deeper hole and put a layer of mulch below the pots, put
the
pots/trees in the hole then mulch over the pot up to the first branch?


I wouldn't go to the trouble.


I'm assuming if they're covered in snow, they'll be frozen and won't
require
water ..... right ??


Yep.


Mark
It's going to be difficult looking at those snow mounds, knowing my
"babies"
are buried beneath.
Am I allowed to peek ??

Don't give in to the temptation to mess with them once they're locked in for
the
winter. If they're buried in snow the snow will crystalize after some time
and you
will risk breaking branches if you mess around. After my first winter I
couldn't
resist getting my trees out as early as possible, and I broke a pot in
addition to
some branches in trying to wrestle them free from the snow. It isn't worth
it.

Just relax, get a few tropicals to work on during the winter, and wait.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Carl Rosner++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++