Trees coming with snow on the ground....

[CedarSwamp]

I'm assuming a number of WI and Mn growers have apple trees being shipped and still have snow on the ground. I got confirmation today that SLN shipped 5 trees to me today so I assume I'll receive them later this week. We have >20" of snow on the ground now. I was thinking of clearing out an area, burying the roots with sand (fortunately I have access to lots of unfrozen sand), getting it moist, and then covering it up with a bunch of snow to insulate it from the changing temperatures. I'd leave the top of the tree exposed, but have the trunk to roots covered up with snow (roots covered with moist sand as well).

What are your thoughts? I'm really not sure what I'm doing when it comes to keeping the trees alive and keeping them from budding out. The trees are being shipped to the farm so hopefully I have a chance to get up there once the trees arrive.

 

[H20fwler]

How cold is your garage? I’ve kept trees for a week or two in cool garage (above freezing but cold) with a damp beach towel wrapped around roots covered in a trash bag until I could plant.

 

[Freeborn]

I'm in the same situation and have put my trees in a 5 gallon pail with a mix of damp cedar chips and peat moss. I looked at potting soil but all of them have fertilizer in them which I wanted to avoid. My garage stays below 50 but does not freeze. My property is 150 miles north of where I live so I will have them at my house for some time. When temps rise at my home and I still can't plant at my property I plan on putting the 5 gallon pale into either a very large Game Cooler with ice or a garbage can with ice. I'm hoping this will keep the trees dormant until I can get them planted.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I've kept trees from SLN in my unheated garage for 3 to 4 weeks before. I kept the roots moist and the trees in a dark corner of the garage so they didn't want to bud out. Temp. in the garage is usually about 45 degrees this time of year. I never had a problem with them. All survived and are growing well. Keeping the roots moist - not sopping wet - and sealed up so they can't dry out is the main thing.

 

[trampledbyturtles]

Same boat, have been holding now for going on 2 full an won't be able to plant for at least another week depending on how much snow we get tonight.

 

[Tree Spud]

Put them in your garage, wrap the roots in a moist towel, and put them in large plastic garbage cans.

Put a space heater is your garage to maintain temp to ~40-45 deg F ... then pray alot ...

Welcome to the habitat life ...

 

[CedarSwamp]

Thanks for all the great advice! I should be able to find something that works where I can store them at the farm while keeping the roots moist and keep them above freezing temps.