Hasty frost protection for 2 Washies 3 Y. rostrata

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 6:42 pm

Minus4C 24F tonight so I got some incandescent Christmas Lights from daughter (she happily traded for my LED's).

Fortunately had a roll of 6 ml plastic in basement and hastily put this up.
Thermocube turns on 2 strands of Christmas lights.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6284370335/" title="DSC05045 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6092/628 ... a93aeb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC05045"></a>

This garden bed is an awkward size but if (when

) the palms and yuccas survive and grow, should look nice.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6284370369/" title="DSC05048 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6096/628 ... 12426d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC05048"></a>

AND the palm hut isn't up yet. (Oh no, gasped the audience!)
So I wrapped the old Trachy's top with a blanket and another string of lights.
I hope the blanket doesn't light on fire overnight.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6284370353/" title="DSC05047 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6233/628 ... 374e68.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05047"></a>

I DO NOT -- REPEAT -- NOT WANT WINTER THIS YEAR

Time for a beer.
Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 6:47 pm

Enjoy the beer while you can--time enough for warm drinks in the months to come.
I don't know much, but that seems fine for lower zone 9 but hope the Washies get a bit more by year's end.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 10:17 pm

hope the Washies get a bit more by year's end.

oh yes, they'll have more protection than this spur-of-the-moment cover.
Just have to figure out how to do the awkward shape without spending a fortune heating the yard.

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:01 am

That will do it...I don't think you need to worry about that Trachy though-

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:45 am

Better safe than sorry with that old beauty.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:46 am

So, how cold did it get there this morning?
--Erik
PS that system is moving here, but low forecast to only 33 F tonight as we got rain today.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:26 pm

Got to -3C 26F.

that system is moving here

After OK's blistering hot summer, you're likely enjoying Fall.

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:59 pm

Great work, Barb! NS is having some cold night temps, so I might end up getting frost this week. It has already reached -0.9 C here the other week. Considering that you've had that trachy for 30+ years, I can understand why you would want to baby it!!

I wait until the temps reach -10 C or colder before protecting my trachies

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:10 pm

nicely done Barb. gotta move fast this time of year with outdoor protection when you need it. I'll probably start building my outdoor frames this weekend. No washys outside for me. I am simple folk. just 5 or 6 trachy's and 4 sabal minors in ground in Kansas. I'll get pics and start my own thread when the time is right. Good luck to all northern palm growers this fall and winter.,

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 11:52 am

looks good Barb. Keep us posted on protecting those Washy's. I got a Washy in the ground this year.........we'll see if my lame protection methods will work.

Tim

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:23 pm

Tim, let's see how you're protecting your Washy please.
Doubt it's as lame as mine...the first half inch of snow and mine will collapse.
I've gotta get some better supports but can't find the re-bar pieces I thought I had...

Kent, yup, you're right about deciding on protection...fast.
Look forward to seeing your pics.

OOOOh, Cameron, -10C before you protect your Trachies?
ouch.

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:21 pm

I won't start protecting my trachys until we see teens at night.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 6:14 pm

No protection yet.....we are still warm enough here....I try to protect by Nov 20 or so.......some years not until Dec.

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:09 am

TimMAz6 wrote:No protection yet.....we are still warm enough here....I try to protect by Nov 20 or so.......some years not until Dec.

Right, i am not ready for this...And they're calling for snow too...Most of it is west of Philly, but stillchilly here on the eastside in jersey....UGH! Noreaster here now, cold and rainy lashing my huge musas! Poor babies!!

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 11:20 am

Tim, this past winter I didn't protect my trachies until early december either! I have a feeling it will be earlier with this cold weather

Okanagan desert-palms · Sat Oct 29, 2011 1:58 pm

Barb those Washy`s look like they have put on some growth since I seen them last. I think 2"x2" frame with a thicker clear plastic stapled to it would be the way to go. Your Trachy should breeze through any temps down to -10c especially when day time temps get above freezing. On a scale of 1 to 10 how much a hate winter would be an 11.

John

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 7:07 pm

2"x2" frame with a thicker clear plastic stapled to it would be the way to go.

Sounds better than what I was thinking.
I thought 6 ml was the thickest plastic

??

On a scale of 1 to 10 how much I hate winter would be an 11.

Yeah, me too John.
I'd be happy if it stayed like this until February, then got warm.

Have you got your frames up?
How about in the driveway circle?
Post some pics when you're done please.

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 8:51 pm

How will you protect your Washys this winter Barb?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:52 am

Thermocube and Christmas lights Jim BUT still haven't figured out how to do such a long area.

John suggested individual 2 x 2 wood framed boxes with plastic stapled over (which is a good idea), but nobody here has the skill to do that.

Yet a long single "tunnel" (like my temporary protection) is hard to heat and would collapse under snow.

H is too busy to help with either ideas or construction.

I'm sure something will be in place by February

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:38 am

Barb

You can do what I did...just get some of the green coated fencing
wrap it in a layer of bubble wrap,then foam wrap,then another
layer of bubble wrap(or 2)again.
Then wrap another layer of fencing over it,this gives it strength
and helps hold the bubble wrap etc,in place.
Then make sure you use 6" of mulch and secure your enclosure to the ground.

You also need to make sure your temps are good in there with at least
one remote sensor.

Here are some different pics of what I did,if you look closely
you can figure it all out,just make sure you have some lids you can put
over them(I used trash can lids),you will also need some type
of insulating cloth or the like to use under the lids-the nice thing
is the lids can be removed to let moisture out when temps allow.

I used bungee cords to hold the lids on.

Alrighty then

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 12:45 pm

Yeah, Jim, I've looked at your protection pics 100s of times and thought "I can do THAT".
But didn't do it because I thought they'd be dug out and potted up (again).
I hadn't noticed that the bubble wrap is in BETWEEN two layers of fencing, certainly good idea.

Once something includes lumber and skil saws and nails/screws, etc. I'm lost.

Off to the hardware store tomorrow (for sure)...fencing wire, bubble wrap.
Seems I already own wire cutters and garbage can lids, and thermocubes and Christmas lights.

My biggest issue will be electrical connections to each of these...'coz it'd have to be a continuous string all the way across/under each "basket".

Now, for the lights string BETWEEN shelters.
Probably should wrap electrical tape around the "in between"/crossings to the next enclosure, with the lights (undone) laying on the ground.

Barb

EDIT: Jim, I've looked closer and now see that you have your lights string lying on the ground between protection.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:46 pm

Yea Barb

Sometime I leave them in and sometimes I take
them out and put electrical tape over them,I don't think
it matters either way as I have also left them empty.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:51 pm

I have also left them empty.

The moisture getting in doesn't blow the line/trip the breaker?
That's the only thing that concerns me.

Barb

ANOTHER EDIT: Or I could just have a snow-tunnel/mouse passage on the ground like Tim???

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 4:46 pm

We got 2" of snow but the banana leaves are still green! Local school reported a low of 29F. Tonight should be colder with clear skys.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 7:56 am

lucky1 wrote:
I have also left them empty.
The moisture getting in doesn't blow the line/trip the breaker?
That's the only thing that concerns me.

Barb

ANOTHER EDIT: Or I could just have a snow-tunnel/mouse passage on the ground like Tim???

Just leave the bulbs in and unscrew them a little,wrap electrical tape around too if you want.

I usually bury mine under mulch as well-don't forget to mulch your Washys in too!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 8:23 am

OK, thanks for the latest tips.

Protecting Washies is a whole other ball game than Trachies.

Will take some pics as it goes up.
Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 2:18 pm

I hope you do make separate enclosures,it
will blow your mind how much heat you would
need to heat that Washy tunnel!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 3:53 pm

Agree it would take a lot of heat.

I was looking forward to building it today.
But some days are good and some aren't so good

Care to guess which it was?

First things first.
Couldn't find the green fencing, so got some black (kinda floppy) fencing.

The dollar store had some aluminum broom handles, and I had some other stuff for the posts too:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6300375186/" title="DSC05050 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6223/630 ... 87050b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05050"></a>

I know you said to put 6 inches of mulch at base but I ended up removing it again.
H just finished gravelling that garden bed and he'd give me H if I got bark mulch all over it, so I tried plastic under it.
The bark mulch is from a tree here that's just been chipped.
There's so much fine stuff, I removed it again because it would've been a fire hazard with lights laying on it.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6300375204/" title="DSC05052 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6237/630 ... d10205.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05052"></a>

This fencing is soooooo floppy, almost impossible to do it myself. Need 6 hands

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6300375276/" title="DSC05054 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6218/630 ... 4fe061.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC05054"></a>

Then a hail/windstorm arrived, and I hadn't even finished ONE protection

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6299920701/" title="DSC05053 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6049/629 ... 97cd0e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05053"></a>

Unplugged the thermocube, it was cold and wet now, so plugged in lights to warm ME and the palms and yuccas

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6300389990/" title="DSC05055 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6091/630 ... 8a55ed.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05055"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6300389996/" title="DSC05056 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6104/630 ... 284529.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05056"></a>

No time left to install bubble wrap and foam.
BTW, Wal mart had bubble wrap ONLY 12" wide

so that's going back.
Bought a foam remnant at a surplus store, then found some insulation in the basement, also some foam that goes under a wood floor.
The rest goes in tomorrow.

And after all that...I had forgotten to put the remote thermometer and thermocube back inside...aaaargh!

Other plants just got Christmas lights at their base and garbage buckets over them...again.

Your set-up looked so EASY, Jim. Harder than it looks.
That floppy fencing did me in.

Enough whining from me.
Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:14 am

Mulch won't catch fire from the lights but the plastic sure can.

Be creative when you go shopping,any foam and some kind of lid
would work well and be less hassle.
The cool thing is that every year you will get better at it.
They don't have to look good the first year,they just have to work
and be able to stand up to the wind.

Okanagan desert-palms · Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:19 pm

Barb looks like your on the right track with that protection. I think I`m going to do a similar protection method as Jim`s and yours for my W. filifera. I have a whole string of old outdoor Christmas lights for the fronds and a heating pad for the trunk, on a thermo cube,and fibreglass insulation to wrap it me thinks. Good luck! We`ll need it!

John

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 8:06 am

OK, major revision.
Removed the "tunnel" and started again.

I'll start by WHINING big time...nobody around to hold/help

but here's my IGLOOS

Couldn't find the rigid fencing that Jim uses...the one I got was so bloody floppy.

Enough whining...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6308802619/" title="DSC05065 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/630 ... 46b714.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05065"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6308784237/" title="DSC05066 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/630 ... b71526.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05066"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6308784257/" title="DSC05067 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6120/630 ... 00166a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05067"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6308802639/" title="DSC05068 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/630 ... 306732.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05068"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6308802643/" title="DSC05069 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6115/630 ... 83a79b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC05069"></a>

I won't tell you how freaking long this took to do...(OK, I will. 2--yes 2--days)

I'll figure out how to close the top later.

Now I wish I had strung the lights around the inside perimeter (but not touching the plastic).
There are 3 (or was it 2?) strings of C-9s laying on the ground at the base of Washies.

Haven't done anything with the Y.rostrata yet.

The remote recorded 95F INSIDE while I was working on it...

Should I stand on a ladder and try to restring the lights from the top?
I am NOT taking it apart again.

Learned that duct tape does not stick to fiberglass insulation...GRRRRRR

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 3:38 am

Your protection looks good Barb. I think your palms look toasty........(meaning warm, not dead...LOL). Keep us posted.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 9:52 am

Definitely need some lids with insulation.

Remember they have sensitive roots and although
they may not stick out beyond your protection you will
need more mulch for next year.....You are now wiser
for having built some protection and I expect
more from you next year!

-LOL

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:37 pm

Thanks Tim, they are warm

Hey Jim, yes, I've gotta figure out the lid thingy for insulation AND snow weight.

At the base, will add bags of leaves around the perimeter to about 4 feet out.
Hope that's enough.

But I'd still like to hang the lights instead of having them lay on the ground...
Can't figure out how to get into it now...

Three Y.rostrata aren't protected yet...

I expect more from you next year

I should'a married a carpenter...hell, I should'a been a carpenter!

Thanks folks!

Barb

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 2:36 pm

Finally a break from the chill.
Gorgeous sunny day.

Time to have a look inside the Washy igloos.

Glad I put a plastic window on south wall of igloo. Sensor reading Washy temp at 2 p.m.: (the 28C indoor = sitting on south windowsill).

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6385592633/" title="DSC05116 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6054/6385 ... 9c51_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC05116"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6385592557/" title="DSC05112 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6041/6385 ... 55f0_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC05112"></a>

Other one, with a leaf stuck on the spear:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6385592601/" title="DSC05114 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6039/6385 ... de0e_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC05114"></a>

Lowest interior reading so far was +1C 34F when it was -10.7C 13F.
Probably not enough Christmas lights in there for when it's -20C...oh well, it'll be a test because I'm not taking the igloos apart again.

So far so good (after 1 month)

Only 4 months of winter to go, Washies...(didn't open up the yuccas to look).

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 6:03 pm

The yuccas probably dont need much, but they do like a bit of air movement. I always place a small hole through the plastic to let moisture out.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 6:19 pm

Looks like your all set Barb

I expect that little Washy to smiling back up at you
the same way,when it is uncovered next spring.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 6:58 pm

but they do like a bit of air movement

I was most worried about Y.rostrata not seeing any daylight for months on end, but will poke a hole in the top of covers tomorrow.
Thanks Aaron.

smiling back up at you
the same way,when it is uncovered next spring

That'd be very satisfying, thanks Jim.
I was surprised there were no leaf spots on Washies from all the moisture inside the igloos.
But I am concerned that the other day when it was -10.7C (13F) , the Washy sensor only read +1C (34F).
Worried I don't have enough lights in there.

Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 7:06 pm

That 10 C difference in vs out also worries me, as the ground is still relatively warm.
You might well be -20 or -30 C outside in a couple of months, right?

Okanagan desert-palms · Wed Nov 23, 2011 9:31 pm

Barb looks good. I would use a long hook of some sort "coat hanger" maybe? Then pull up some of those lights to protect the spear and add more lights. You should have a little more confidence that your Washy`s are pure filifera. I hope we have above average winter temps.

John