No garden access in April - to unwrap or not???

[cordyman]

Morning guys,

Need some opinions.

Dicksonia antarctica, Several Musa Basjoo, and T-rex all still protected. All looking good when checked on last week. This is the last time i'll be able to get into the garden until May.

Do I unwrap and let everything get a move on, or leave wrapped till I have access again in May?


The key factor being if I unwrap I can't nip out to protect if needed. Chance of damage in April?

[Dave Brown]

Dicksonia antarctica will turn knuckles into croziers and soft fronds during April unless very cold, so if left wrapped you may be writing off this spring's flush. Mine have not been covered at all over the last winter. Musa basjoo is actively growing now.

Think your protection overkill, may just turn into kill if left wrapped until May

You wrapped a Trex !!!

[Arlon Tishmarsh]

Unwrap.................

[cordyman]

cheers

Trex is just a pop bottle over growing point to keep frosts off it

No real risk of damaging frond frosts to the Dicksonia antarctica then in April? Chance of snow very slim?

[jungle jas]

Mine have not been permanently wrapped this winter, just something thrown over them when a frost was forecast, three times I think this winter. However you do have to consider he is a lot further north than you two. I would unwrap but don't blame me if they snuff it. There is still time to get some good frosts, especially up north.

[Arlon Tishmarsh]

. I would unwrap but don't blame me if they snuff it.

What a cop out.................

[cordyman]

In hindsight i'd have wrapped nothing this winter, and all would have come through unscathed, I still have geraniums in the borders!

But come winter and its quickly changing patterns i'm a man of wrap, forget about it, don't set foot in the garden This winter has really broke the pattern though since i've been into exotics and been a real eye opener

I may just unwrap today, but leave a fleece bag over the top. That way if any frost/snow etc does arrive they have a bit of a chance.

ps. just checked and 2012 I unwrapped March 24th

http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/v ... &start=150


April 6th in 2013

http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/v ... =1&t=19621

[kata]

I shan't say unwrap Cordy...should my advice kill them I would feel terrible

I can say my Basjoo is doing something green... and they are able to stand some frost...

....Dave is that right?

I have still the need to put the plastic tube on the Basjoo with fleece just pushed in the top, thats the only one thats fleeced. I have a double Basjoo thats not fleeced and doing nothing, I cut of some stem ages ago.

The Fern has a plastic cloche at night, off during the day.

Pssst...its 29th today....lmaoooooooooooooo

[Deedee]

Why wont you be able to get into the garden Cordy, have i missed something

[kata]

Ah, I knew it...I resisted the temptation Dee....

[Deedee]

Ah, I knew it...I resisted the temptation Dee....

Have i asked the wrong question Kata

[bordersboy]

Unwrapped my big treefern a fortnight ago but left some fleece in the crown. Was really happy to have green fronds after a winter,firstr time.
Went away for a few days and they got blackened by a bad frost or two. The hail didnt help either
The rest will stay wrapped till mid summer now

[Dave Brown]

However you do have to consider he is a lot further north than you two. I would unwrap but don't blame me if they snuff it. There is still time to get some good frosts, especially up north.

I also have to consider that he has had a milder winter than in the SE. I have had 5 frosts in 2014 where as many in the west and north were saying is was their first frost last week.

I always leave a light ball of fleece in the crown until the knuckles become croziers, just in case

[kata]

Have i asked the wrong question Kata

No Dee, Its just no one asked why and you were the first...I thought about it but held back in case it was too private a thing going on...

So you asking made me

[Arlon Tishmarsh]

Why wont you be able to get into the garden Cordy, have i missed something

He has to go back to the detention center, they only let him out now and again.

Don't blame them either............