Winter Protection

Hello
I have a year old silver birch and was wondering that if I put its pot into a plastic bag and fastened the bag around the base of the trunk would the roots be protected from freeze drying and hard frosts over the winter?
Thanks

Absolutely no need to. These are totally hardy pioneer trees that survive on neglect. Leave it in the most exposed place and it will thrive. Doesn't matter if the roots freeze solid. They grow in quarry waste, high up in Snowdonia, so should be no problem at all in the West Midlands.

So long as it is watered in the morning, on less frosty days, it should do fine.

If I may add a question onto Treebeard's, if you put any tree's rootball into a plastic bag and seal it around the trunk, won't that cause the root mass to run out of available oxygen and cause the tree to die?

Jay

Jay Gaydosh wrote:If I may add a question onto Treebeard's, if you put any tree's rootball into a plastic bag and seal it around the trunk, won't that cause the root mass to run out of available oxygen and cause the tree to die?
Jay

He was talking about winter conditions, mostly below freezing. Like a hibernating bear, the roots are not using a significant amount of oxygen. However, I would not recommend it, because there is too much chance of root rot. If I had a tree where the roots needed a little extra protection, I would put the whole pot in the ground for the winter.
Iris

ah ok, i was'nt sure as ive heard about tree's in shallow pots being killed by freezing winds etc.

Thanks all