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Planting smaller trees in containers solves many problems. If the soil is sandy or clay, it’s not good for the tree. You can fill the pot with high-quality soil that drains well. If you live in a place that gets colder in the winter than the tree can handle, potted evergreen trees do well if you can bring the pot inside during the cold months.
But potted trees that survive winter don’t necessarily need to be brought inside. It is possible to leave potted trees outside over the winter in many places, as long as you take the right safety measures. This goes for both evergreen and deciduous trees. If you are interested in winter tree protection, read on.
Trees planted in containers have some advantages over those planted in the ground. You can control the soil quality and drainage by filling the pots with a premium soil mix. And in regions with cold winters, potted trees that survive winter can be relocated indoors to protect them when temperatures drop.
But can trees survive in pots over winter outdoors? With proper care and preparation, the answer is yes for many varieties.
Pick Cold Hardy Varieties for the Best Chance of Survival
When choosing trees for containers, opt for varieties known to be cold hardy in your area. Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to find your zone, then select trees rated at least two zones colder.
For example, if you live in Zone 6, look for trees rated for Zone 4 to increase the chance of successful overwintering. Evergreens like arborvitae, juniper, hemlock and pine can survive in pots with proper winter protection. Many deciduous trees also do well, like maple, birch, oak and beech.
Citrus, tropical and subtropical trees will need to be moved indoors or provided extra insulation to make it through winter.
Give Special Care to Evergreen Trees in Pots
Broadleaf evergreen varieties like magnolia holly and cherry laurel are vulnerable when grown in containers. Their foliage continues transpiring moisture during winter, putting the trees at risk of desiccation. Apply an anti-desiccant spray in late fall to help reduce moisture loss. Check soil regularly watering anytime it feels dry to the touch.
Also monitor for winter burn. Wind and sunlight can dry out needled evergreens like pine, spruce and fir. Move containers to a sheltered location or wrap with burlap to protect from winter sun and wind.
Pick the Right Container for Insulation
A tree or shrub grown in the ground has soil insulation all around its root system. But container plants only have insulation on their sides. The container material makes a difference in how well it shields roots from winter cold.
Plastic and metal pots conduct cold readily. Thick, wood or concrete containers provide better insulation. Large containers are also better, since they hold more insulating soil. But avoid terra cotta or ceramic pots that may crack as temperatures fluctuate.
Protect Roots from Freezing Temperatures
Check whether your potted tree will survive the coldest winter temperatures expected in your area If it’s borderline hardy, take steps to protect roots
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Place containers in a sheltered location near the house or close together for shared warmth.
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Partially bury pots in the ground and cover with mulch for insulation.
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Surround above ground containers with straw bales or mounds of leaves or bark.
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Move pots to an unheated garage or enclosed porch where temperatures stay above 20° F.
Water Potted Trees Throughout Winter
Prior to winter, give trees a thorough watering to ensure adequate moisture. Check soil moisture regularly over winter. Water anytime it feels dry about an inch below the surface.
Roots require moisture even during dormancy. But avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot in cool temperatures.
Prepare Trees for Dormancy in Fall
To ensure trees harden off properly prior to winter, avoid late season fertilization with nitrogen. This can spur new growth that won’t have time to prepare for dormancy.
Slow release fertilizer applied earlier in the season is fine. Stop fertilizing six weeks before your average first frost date.
Prune deciduous trees in late winter or early spring before buds begin to swell. For evergreens, prune in late winter but not during freezing weather.
Mulch Well After Soil Freezes
Wait to add winter mulch until after several hard frosts when the ground has frozen solid. Applying too early can provide cover for rodents who may chew on bark and roots. Pile mulch 2-4 inches deep around the base of pots.
Be Ready to Move Plants in Extreme Cold
In regions with occasional severe cold snaps, be prepared to move potted trees and shrubs into a sheltered location on short notice. Temperatures below 0° F may damage roots even with protection.
Pay attention to weather forecasts and have a spot ready in the garage or barn. Use blankets or tarps to quickly cover and move containers to safety.
With the right selection, care and protection from winter extremes, many trees can survive outside in containers. Evergreen varieties will benefit from extra diligence to prevent desiccation damage. But a wide range of trees can pull through winter and thrive again in spring.
Picking Containers for Potted Trees
A lot of what the tree’s roots experience will depend on the type of pot you use. It just makes sense that thin container walls will not shield the cold as well as thicker ones. That eliminates plastic and metal containers for storing potted trees over winter.
Potted Trees That Survive Winter
Trees planted in pots feel the cold of winter more than trees with roots in the ground. That’s because they have less soil insulating their roots. As the winter chill sets in, you may need to protect your tree for the winter to make sure it lives.
This is obviously not necessary for potted trees in warmer climates. Container plants do well in the back yard all year in San Francisco, where winter temperatures stay well above freezing, without any extra winter care. In cooler places, potted trees that make it through the winter are either cold hardy or are protected from wind and cold.
The first thing you can do to help trees make it through the winter is to choose trees that can handle the cold where you live. But keep in mind that hardiness zones show how cold a tree can handle when its roots are in the ground and not in a pot. It’s possible for the roots of your container plants to get colder than the roots that are in the ground. In fact, the roots can get as cold as the air in the winter.
How can you protect these plants from winter trees? First, find the USDA hardiness zone for your container, which should be two zones colder than your normal zone. That should tell you if your tree is still safe. Choose perennials, trees, and shrubs that are hardy to Zone 4 if you live in Zone 6, for example. This will make it more likely that the plants will survive the winter well. You’ll also want to pick your containers carefully.
Prepping Our Potted Trees for a Cold Winter
FAQ
How do you keep a potted tree alive in the winter?
How long can trees stay in pots?
What are the disadvantages of container trees?
Will a potted pine tree survive winter?
Can You overwinter potted trees outside?
In many areas, it’s entirely feasible to overwinter potted trees outside – including both potted evergreen trees and potted deciduous trees – if you take proper precautions. If you are interested in winter tree protection, read on. Trees planted in pots feel the cold of winter more than trees with roots in the ground.
Do potted trees survive winter?
In cooler regions, potted trees that survive winter are either cold hardy to the region or else are provided protection from cold and wind. Picking trees that are cold hardy to your location is the first step in helping trees make it through the winter.
Can a container tree survive winter?
Obviously, moving container plants indoors for the coldest months is an effective way to protect them. But it’s not the only way to improve a container tree’s chances. Here’s another way of storing potted trees over winter.
Can potted plants survive the winter?
Many perennial and evergreen plants in containers can survive the winter, if you take precautions to protect them. Annuals grown in containers are discarded at the end of the season, but many potted perennials, shrubs and small trees can be maintained over the winter if steps are taken to protect the plants and their containers.
Can a tree grow in a pot in winter?
In winter, the ground may freeze and will stay cold even if the sun shines. But the soil temperature in a pot will fluctuate widely with exposure to sun, wind, and overnight cold temperatures. In addition, because there is limited soil in the pot, there is far less soil insulating the tree’s roots.
Can a container plant survive the winter?
If a tree, shrub, or perennial cannot be planted in its final spot before winter arrives, you will need to take steps to make sure it survives the winter while still in the container. Container-grown plants should not be left outdoors above ground over the winter months.