I buried several of my young trees in pots in my garden for the winter.
These are all
plastic pots which have filled with the melted snow, to the brim. With
the varying temperatures we are experiencing, some of this water has
refrozen. Will this ice layer atop the soil in any way harm the
plants? Should I make extra efforts to remove it?

Sherwin D.

sherwindu wrote:
I buried several of my young trees in pots in my garden for the
winter.
These are all
plastic pots which have filled with the melted snow, to the brim.
With
the varying temperatures we are experiencing, some of this water has
refrozen. Will this ice layer atop the soil in any way harm the
plants? Should I make extra efforts to remove it?

Sherwin D.

I doubt it. Ice is a good insulator. They are better off with the ice
than without.

It may be a good insulator, but don't the roots need air, even if they are
somewhat
dormant?

Sherwin D.

simy1 wrote:

sherwindu wrote:
I buried several of my young trees in pots in my garden for the
winter.
These are all
plastic pots which have filled with the melted snow, to the brim.
With
the varying temperatures we are experiencing, some of this water has
refrozen. Will this ice layer atop the soil in any way harm the
plants? Should I make extra efforts to remove it?

Sherwin D.

I doubt it. Ice is a good insulator. They are better off with the ice
than without.

sherwindu wrote:
It may be a good insulator, but don't the roots need air, even if
they are
somewhat
dormant?


but the pot drains freely, right? so there is air. And if the pot is
frozen solid (depending on how cold it has been in chicago), then
probably the ice on top makes no difference.