It depends on how established your plants are or what budding or fruiting stage they are in. I have some young ones that I don't expose to any windy day and one heavy bloomer that I bring inside on windy days.

Hobby, what exactly are you worried about? 18 mph does not seem too bad. Are you worried that they will tip over? If so, you can add weights (like bricks) to the containers or secure them to the ground in some way. I doubt that the wind will break branches or rip leaves off. You will have to water more frequently. I think that as long as the trees are staked properly, with enough room to move with the wind, they will be all right.

Breaking news a massive thunderstorm just rolled in with 60 mph winds and torrential rain! A few plants were knocked over and I just had my house guests come outside with me to help move all my plants inside! Hail is forecast too.

Well I have some that are very established but I am still worried about the constant whipping back and forth- can they take it?

And I do have some that were recently transplanted, the taller ones I move inside but the smaller ones seem to be able to take it, but I have been watching to see if the rootball is moving under the mix and if so I move them inside.

Once I repot they won't tip over anymore, it's more the constant whipping I worry about.

What do you guys think?

Thank you, I hope so I'm already exhausted from the moving in and out and it's only May lol!

I guess I'll have to keep doing it for the recent transplants. Still worried about the whipping back and forth, I know you're not supposed to stake but I caved and staked a few that are the very swoopy shape. I hope that's ok!

Oh no Hobby! I hope they will be ok! The positive thing about the 5-1-1 is they are much lighter, but the gritty mix will hold them in place...pros and cons....;-)

Hobby...I dream of getting thunder storms since now they are a thing of the past, before they deforested all the surrounding communities..Now I am getting drought and a drop here and there, no significant rains, but just a heck of a lot of wind...Mine don't tip because I use the brick method and many are held down by stakes..Thank goodness so that if i do finally get one, my trees can bask in it with safety..It's amazing how they respond to lightning and rain...I wish(

How did every thing turn out for you? all safe now?

Thanks guys they are all ok but quite a few got knocked over and lost about half their mix/5-1-1. So hopefully I can repot them soon to weigh them down a bit better.

It turned out to be a gorgeous day today but I was too lazy to move them back out- good thing because another brief storm just rolled through and would have knocked them over again!

Yes Laura I am so glad i didn't go gritty after all, there would be no way I could keep moving them all in and out constantly. The 5-1-1 is heavy enough, it's just the new nursery arrivals that are getting blown over.

Good to know you stake too Mike, I think I have to with these winds. My in laws are here visiting that moved from Sask out to the coast and they were so excited to experience prairie thunderstorms again- they are dramatic!

My father in law always raves about the nitrogen boost plants get from lightning so I guess it's true? Hope you get some rain soon, the trees do seem to like a good soak right?

I have never bee on the prairie and can't imagine what a thunderstorm on the prairie must be like. I would think it would be very scary!!

It's pretty cool if you are tucked up safely inside to watch. Because of the big skies you can see the Lightning coming towards you on the skyline. Then once it hits there is usually swirling sideways rain and deafening thunder than can shake the house. The dogs run for the basement that's for sure!

Your father in law is right! Seems to me it's like my trees had a shot of steroids after a good storm..Boy do I miss those days..My trees are subjected to tap water almost constantly which eventually makes them sad..So tired of net getting the pure rains(

I would love to see storms on the prairie like that. Chasing a tornado is on my bucket list in tornado ally) That's probably the way I'll g out...lol

I have a wind related question as well , how do i stop the pots from falling over , I have them on a 5-1-1 mix , and I put 2 ft 4*4s on the pot , but the wind still gets the better of it . Wouldnt putting bricks on the top of soil compress the soil or is that ok .