12/16/2025
While temperatures drop lets have some ideas heat up.
What methods have any of you used to protect your trees over the winter? I'm expecting different methods for different kinds of trees.
When people ask me what to do about (watering, light, temperature, fertilizing, etc.), to which I generally answer with, "ask your tree." Different species need different environments to thrive! Surprise!
The trees I have that are native species are still outside, near a fence to block wind, down low and partially buried, and then covered in a layer of leaf mulch. On warm days I'll connect the hose and wet them down, but I can't do that when it's freezing. I don't want them to dry out.
Tropicals are in my garage with as many grow lights as I have since they can't compare to sunshine. They are on a stack stand for easy access. I have a moisture meter to check when they need watering. I ensure I check both at the top (which generally dries first) and then deep down to ensure it is not keeping too wet down low on the roots. I water when I measure low moisture down low. The water is fertilized every few weeks or a month.
One of the ficus I've been reducing has been cut a bit farther back than I should have, so I have to be careful with it for a while.
Ikey's bougainvillea is happy.
