Outdoor protection, let's see what you're doing!

Sorry Bill, must have missed your question. I've heard of Tyvek before, but I don't think that my current financial situation will aloow me to try too many different things this winter.

25.6f! Are thye in a good microclimate? Mine were toasted at that low even with freeze-pruf. Hmm.

Yea Bill,did you use Freeze Pruf and not tell anyone?including yourself? 😉 😆

No worries Paul, I hear ya times are tougher then normal right now for a lot of people. The funny thing about where they are it's actually my coldest spot in the yard. Go figure! There was a 5 gal. bucket about 15 feet away that froze 2 inches at least trust me it was cold. I had the heat cables going but not sure how that would have done anything. No one is really reporting any freeze pruf stories anywhere that I can find, maybe it works better on the palms.

Jim, I wish I used it one a few things trust me! Hope this stuff works, I don't think Franko would put his name on it if it didn't. I heard that he's in the process of writing another book. Can't wait to read it.

Bill

OSB panels were heavy but only 3 screws hold each to the next one.
Sled base will slide in properly when I finish painting the side closest to house.
One inch "pseudo" styrofoam was friction fit between studs.

Tomorrow the clear slanted roof goes on.

Easy to take panels apart for summer storage.

Note the optimism (height)...for the Trachy's growth. 😆

Will do leaf/wire cage enclosures for the y.rostrata x and also for the Nainital.
Barb

Barb, Looks nice so far! Should be good for a few years too.

Steve

very nice to see and hear everybody's wintertime strategies. I am going with leaf cages that I used very successfully last year and then going to build a couple of structures with 2 X 4's to protect a couple of T Fortuneis I have in the ground. I also planted a couple of sabal minors in the ground this summer, they are very small and will just use leave cages and plastic over them. I'll have the camera handy and post some pics. Good overwrintering luck to all.

Kent,

Careful with leaf cages around Sabal minor. For some reason mine were killed to the ground despite the leaf enclosure. If you do go this route, be sure to exclude all moisture and give a good fungicide treatment... There must be a way to do it sucessfully, but I've only had bad luck (also see Francko's book on Sabal minor).

Nice boxes Barb! Those are similar to the one I built for my washys. I still haven't installed anything but as soon as I do I'll post pictures.

Are you going to leave the front off for awhile or are the in there for the winter? Also are you putting in a window for access and light? What are you using
for a heat source?

By the way my mailman crashed into my 5 foot trunk musa sikkimensis today! I was raining pretty good so I really didn't get to examine it to closely yet.
It bent it over at least 10 degrees I would say. Hope it's alright! I don't really want to start with zero trunk for next year. What can you do! He said he
would pay for it but what the hell, it's not like he hit it on purpose. Plus he's a cool guy.

Bill

I think Francko's book is a little out of date in that people(all the people on this and other forums included)have pushed protection methods beyond where he took us in his book-still a great book though,I reread it every fall as I plan my protection.
He mentions wet leaf piles not being effective for Sabals but I don't think anyone on this forum would leave wet leaves on their palms for long.
I think with leaf cages as long as you have a lid are cover of some type that's wider(by about a foot)than what you covering your good.
My Needle palms actually had a frozen wall a foot out from them from the run off of moisture over their rain shield,which I think added an extra barrier from the cold.

Barb that's a nice cover for that Trachy,I see your taking no chances with her this winter 😉
Hopefully it will grow out of it fast 😀

Barb looking good. What was the carpenters attitude when you told him you wanted build a Palm tree hut? I bet he must have been shaking his head 😆 Hopefully you leave the front of that enclosure with double pained clear plastic for some natural light.

John

Thanks folks...he said "you want it HOW tall?" 😆
He thinks I'm nuts!
A 33 year old palm deserves this much care.

My photo thingy isn't working, damn.

We added a clear roof today on a slant to shed snow.

OSB will turn to mush when wet so I've got to paint the outside.

The heater is a Patton utility heater.
Got a 14 gauge extension cord to prevent cord overheating.

The wireless remote temp sensor and receiver work great.

I've gotta get working on the leaf cages for the y.rostrata x and also for the Nainital.
No shortage of leaves suddenly.

Barb

PS--sheesh, Bill, I hope that Musa makes it! Men drivers 😆 😆 😆

THANKS for the heads up Paul. I have another thread on this forum titled, winter protection, zone 6,in which I detail my protection method with leaves and bags. I do spray the plants first with a 3 in a 1 fungicidal spray, allow the plant to dry completely and then put dry leaves on top, then a trash bag or similar plastic wrap over everything and then hold down with bricks or wood. Keeps everyhting very dry and so far this has worked very well (at least for 2 years).

Nice Oppalm
That's the key,(besides fungicide) closing them down when totally dry.
I will probably need to cover my stuff (from rain)for a month now just to dry stuff out.
Jeeeez-we have had 5+ inches of rain in the last week or so.
The only thing that shuts down this El Nino type pattern we are in is,if the Arctic opens up!
One way or another,this is shaping up to be one WILD winter!

should be very happy palm this winter. its motivating me to cover my palms this weekend just to get it out of the way.

Yea Mike,
I think at least put a roof over their heads with all the rain lately all it would take is one serious shot of cold to mess things up.
I plan on covering 90% of my stuff from rain from here on out.
I was hoping 4-5" of mulch would do this but with 5"+ of rain in the last week.....
That much rain just goes right through the mulch!