northern white cedar backbudding

Hi, i just noticed my white cedar backbudding further back on the lower branches. It has backbudded within the foliage structure since i collected it in 2009 but further back on the older branches is where it is needed badly. It is at the beginning of autumn here and i really dont want these buds to abort due to lack of hardening off before frost, ect. What are my options on saving those buds further back. They are currently ever increasing in size and are somewhat a reddish maroon color. Thanks for anyones input.

Tree is getting ready for next spring. Stay calm as cold temperature comes it will stop growing. Hope your Cedar is outside, right?

Of course. It is a northern limit species so its never inside or in a greenhouse. It is however in an unheated garage with a dim window nearby but not close. I have had this since 2009....32 inches tall. Never had it backbud that far back(which is great) the wood it is backbudding was there before i collected it in 2009 so that makes it OLDER than 3 years old but they say it is difficult if not impossible to get them to backbud past 3 year old wood.

Mother nature have their ways and sometimes "little miracles" happen. Be happy your tree is backbudding the way you want. It shows you give right training and that's why is developed so good. I would be more nervous if tree is not budding at all

I'm no expert on this tree -- only have one -- but why, in S. Ohio, is this in a garage for the winter? These grow up on the Canadian Shield, and should survive more cold than Ohio can send at them.

JimLewis wrote:I'm no expert on this tree -- only have one -- but why, in S. Ohio, is this in a garage for the winter? These grow up on the Canadian Shield, and should survive more cold than Ohio can send at them.

My first thought, too. These trees are extremely hardy and could easily stay out year round in Ohio in a location out of the wind and sun with the pot mulched. There's nothing wrong with using the garage for storage, either, but I wouldn't be placing truly hardy trees in there until mid to late November at the earliest. When I lived in usda zone 6 MA, Thanksgiving weekend was typically when I put my hardy trees to bed for the winter.

I can't speak for Mitch, but I can give one possible reason for preferring to keep trees in a shed or garage - critter damage. I had a number of trees outside a couple of winters ago, some with pots sunk in the ground, all with some form of mulch. Several were severely damaged by voles during the winter. We get lots of snow up here (100" per year) and the voles are very active under the snow...can see surface "tunnels" everywhere when the snow melts. I haven't had any similar damage in my garage. I know keeping the trees in a shelter is no guarantee, but I feel I can control the critters better than I can outside.

There you go. Deer are prevalent out here and they absolutely love white cedar foliage. I keep them inside the garage and surround the cage they are locked in with mothballs. There are also traps set throughout the garage. This garage is not heated at any time and is very cold in there without the dessicating winter winds. I have done this since 2003 with no problem and the tree in question has been stored like this since its collection in 2009 and its health in spring tells me all i need to know about the safety of storing it in the garage. Theres been zero dieback except for the minor dieback i get from white cedars every late summer to fall from natural tendencies of this species in doing that.

Same here Chris, plus, I have no wind protected area at all in my yard.

Again, I don't think it's a problem to use the cold garage for storage...it just seems too early to be putting them away for the winter. I always let my hardy trees freeze solid several times before placing them in my garage...

Ok i never said a thing about them already being put away! What i am basically asking is the buds are popping, will they have time to harden off BEFORE! I put them away into storage? Its not a message strand about wintee storage but about the buds on it now till then.

Mitch - Cedarbog wrote: It is however in an unheated garage with a dim window nearby but not close..

Sorry...it sounded like that was where the tree is NOW, and that seemed to be fairly relevant information to clarify. As far as the buds go, I can't answer your specific question from experience but suspect that they will most likely be fine.

I see where all the confusion is now. It is' referring to the winter confinement'. My mistake on wording.