Preparing for the polar vortex

last year

last modified: last year

We are looking at a plunge in the temperature this coming week, below normal for my newly designated zone 7a. Is there anything I should be doing to protect new transplants like rhododendrons or potted smyrgryd arborvitae?

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Comments (5)

cecily 7A
last year
How much snow do you have on the ground?
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
last year
How cold is it expected to get?

tj
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kitasei2
Original Author
last year
No snow, single digits.
porkchop_z5b_MI
last year
I can't speak to zone 7, but up here the reason to protect rhodies and broadleaf evergreens is from wind damage and reduce transpiration. You mentioned they're new transplants -- generally speaking, a thick layer of mulch prevents heaving from the freeze-thaw cycle something to be concerned about with new transplants, so putting down mulch around the bases would be good idea, if you haven't already. If you'd like to take an extra step, you can fashion some sort of cage around them and stuff it loosely with straw - that way you'd get the benefit of wind protection, too. But, if they're not in an exposed area, that might not be necessary.
kitasei2 thanked porkchop_z5b_MI
rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
last year
How cold is it expected to get?

Overnight tonight for us it is predicted to reach a low of -21C/-6F....with very little snow cover :(.