Okay, so before you cry yourself to sleep, I have some questions.

I‘ve seen before where you build shelters around trees for winter, do you do any other heating?

I have a little micro climate spot that I want to try something similar. My house has a bit of an “L” shape that faces south. Shelter from the wind and heat reflected off the building makes it a bit warmer.

Thing I was wondering is if the ground would still freeze and kill the roots, even with a shelter above ground. I thought about digging a pit but don’t think the wife will be onboard with that.

The other issue is that my winter oasis becomes Death Valley hot in the summer. So since I think you’ve done this a few times, what have you learned?

I do some heating. I used 3 CFL's to heat the tree below for 69 watts total.

My other enclosure I used an open window in my bathroom to blow warm air into the greenhouse when temps dropped down into the teens. My enclosure temperatures don't drop below freezing. If your trees are grafted to a Trifoliat hybrid or pure bred your roots won't be damaged by freezing. As far as heat citrus trees can take a lot of heat. Just don't cook them. Where is your location. This will make a difference to how you approach this. There is nothing worse than a dead citrus tree.

Steve

I’m in NJ, we were zone 6, maybe 7 depending on which map you use. The polar vortex a few years back wiped out my first attempt at a temporary lean to type enclosure. I’ve been hesitant about trying again but moving everything in and out is getting old.

James, I hear you about moving everything in and out...I am getting tired of it myself. And what's worst, the season take longer to warm up enough to stop having to bring them inside. Here it is May 5 and I am still too cold to leave my things out for the evenings. I see 40's for the next ten days. What ever happened to the nights being warmer in May? It's very old.

I just stuck most of my orchids out there and I don't give a load if they make it or die. They are getting good rain, but let's see if they rot.

Good luck with what you deice)

Steve, great job on that little tree. I hope it does well and survives out there. I have always thought it a great idea with the windows you put together)

James Have your spouse help you move your trees in and out and she might decide that a pit is a REAL GOOG IDEA after all. The sun is much brighter in death valley and the air is much drier and hotter than your area. Keep your inground tree watered and It should handle the summer heat just fine.

Steve

I’m sure if you listen closely you will hear the sound of laughter off in the distance. That would be my wife after I ask her to help me with my plants.

I‘ve seen you post that photo before and always wanted to ask if that was an old stairwell or if you dug out a space. How do you get inside, is there a door?

I like the idea of going below ground, I think it would be much easier to heat.

Mike, My plants keep getting bigger and I keep getting older. Somethings gotta give, most likely it will be my back. I’ve moved about 1/4 of my plants outside over the past week. My lows will be dropping to the mid 40s but I think everything will be okay. I’ve been too busy at work to keep up with watering so I think the cold will be better that the drought.

There was a stairwell Between the garage and house that I removed and then I dug out a wedge of dirt 5 feet wide by 12 feet long and 7 foot deep. I filled it up with compost as a 7 foot deep block.

Tree is in a pit about 4 feet deep.

Digging is brutal work, that must have been tough. Being below ground is the way to go.

I have 3 Kumquat trees. They can really go well below freezing temps. We have to pick our fruit when a freeze comes, but the trees are fine. Look up what they will take. It is way below other citrus

It was 12 degrees, a rarity for us, this last winter. We did have to move everything into the garage.

I have So Much. We filled the entire house, shed and garage. We had to hire a worker to help us or we couldn't do it. He dug up all the Hibiscus & so much more. Helped us replant.

Sounds funny ?

I am so glad we did. There are no citrus trees in the entire huge city of Houston.

Also plants because of price gouging have gone up 2 to 3 times.

Etsy wants 50.00 for a double rangoon because of the demand.

Not buying.

To me the heat would be a huge issue.

BTW

Protecting citus here. We cover the entire trunk especially over the graft as far up as we can, with thick foam for plumbers. We cut in half - place around the trunk to fully cover then tape in place. All the citrus, mangoes, avocados are covered this way. Then add blanket coverings with christmas lights strung on the tree. The lights are left on the tree all summer.

We all share the same problems

James I was young when I dug out the clay.

Carol Did you bring your kumquat trees inside for that 12F

Carol, the problem for my area is that we don't get an occasional frost, I get frozen solid for a good 3 months, then a few months later its Africa hot. Digging down a few feet would help even out the highs and lows. I was also looking at compost heat pumps for a bit which also look interesting. I just need to retire while I'm still physically able to do these things.

I'm also somewhat new to kumquats. I'm on my third tree, last two died off shortly after i purchased them. I have a single fruit at the moment. More questions to follow.

Steve, good for you! I have been out but have been meaning to check in. A few days ago I planted two citrus in the ground too....the Kimbrough citsuma and the yuzu. Let me tell you a story....last year I threw what may have been a mandarin of some sort in my compost pile (not active anymore, but a big mound) because I thought it was dead. Well a week ago my daughter wanted to clean up that area and make a garden. Guess what? That discarded tree was sprouting! It spent the winter in there with no protection and looks better than it did when I threw it out! Needless to say, I decided to reward its valor and it is now planted I. Her garden as well. I had a calamondin seedling also survive the winter, and of course, the Prague citsuma is finally growing like gangbusters. That tree did shed lots of old leaves in the early spring, but boy is it coming back. I took pics to show you. I looked up on Stan McKenzie’s site and the kimbrough is supposed to be good to 12 and the tree shown on his site has survived single digits for short periods. I hope mine will as well. The yuzu should be about the same. I know I’m taking a chance, but I’m willing to do it. I’m still downsizing trees and figured these two can make it in the cold. Fingers crossed.

Here’s the Prague:

Steve, how's it looking now buddy?

I will let you know after I get back from Philadelphia.

Hey, did you get back yet? You must miss your trees while away Steve...Who waters the plants on the hot roof while you are gone?

I am back and it was cold here for the whole week. LoA waters the plants