evergreens zone 7

CAN I PURCHASE EVERGREENS... EX. GREEN GIANT ARBORVAITAE OR LEYLAND CYPRESS IN A 5 GALLON POT... NOT B & B AND CAN IT SURVIVE THE WINTER. I WANT TO PLANT IT IN THE SPRING BUT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GREAT SALES NOW. ZONE 7

THANKS

The short answer is YES.

United States has a Lot of different zones.. i cant plant those and they survive- but I know my agricultural zone...cant tell what your zone is

The OP says zone 7.

you dont understand my question. Im purchasing them in pots and leaving them in pots through the winter of zone 7. Will they survive it?

If you are planning to leave them outside in their pots, they will fare better planted in the ground. If left in the pots, they need to be put into an unheated garage or porch - someplace that will not freeze and has some windows.

If you are not prepared to put them in their permanent places and have no indoor space, bury the pots in the ground until you are ready to plant them.

Again: The short answer is YES.

Your answer was too short. 8')

I don't disagree with all the other recommendations - and I understood the question the first time.

Regardless, the answer is still YES.

No protection required in zone 7. I've overwintered both those plants above ground in containers here - where it is quite a bit colder.

I think I'm with Daisy on this one. The general rule is, to survive outdoors w/o protection, containerized plants should be hardy to at least 2 zones colder than the zone they are actually in - 1 zone colder if over-wintered outdoors WITH protection. So in z7, the plant should be hardy to z5 if no protection is provided. The arborvitae is (hardy to 5), the cypress isn't, so it needs some form of protection. Both should be over-wintered out of wind and direct sun, if possible. For the cypress, burying the pots in the ground or mulching them very heavily with the pot resting on bare earth would be fine - a garage would be better.

Keep in mind that because a plant tolerates a given low temp is no indication it approves of it. Roots of a particular plant succumb to different low temps, with the youngest/finest roots being killed off at temperatures much warmer than older, more lignified roots. So, in the case of the cypress, if it happens to survive an over-wintering w/o protection in zone 5, you have to ask yourself, "At what expense to the root system?" With protection, the plant might shake off its quiescence in the spring and pick up right where it left off in the fall. W/o protection, it might react like a great big cutting, with little in the way of a viable root mass.

So, regardless of whether or not the plants will still be viable after a wintering w/o protection, we should all be able to agree on the fact that both would benefit from the offer of protection.

Al

Longer answer provided:

The treatise notwithstanding, the results are the same. Rules of thumb are fine as guidelines, and mileage may vary from species to species and vagaries of weather to vagaries of weather. Too sharp a pencil may just be a sticking point. Hollies and boxwoods are variously rated as zone 5 to zone 7 winter hardy, but it is known by reproducible research that Ilex and Buxus roots are killed at 28ºF.

I would advocate that planting the plants is the best answer - not leaving them in a pot any longer than absolutely necessary, protected or not. No plant prefers that condition either, but obviously many can and do tolerate it.

From personal and actual experience, I know that 'Green Giant' Thuja and Leyland Cypress can and do survive zone 7 conditions in pots above ground with no extra protection. These exact plants have lived above ground in central KY zone 5b/6a just like that. I have three 'Green Giant' growing here in containers that are still above ground, with no protection, after this past winter.There are many nurseries producing these plants in zone 7 sites that do no more.

Generally, plants should be planted - not left in pots any longer than necessary. Protection when still in pots is better - whether it is cold of winter or heat of summer. Leaving these specific species/plants in containers on top of the ground in mild climate winters with no protection (like zone 7 or warmer) is not a challenge to their survival.

Thus, the original short answer given.

What should/shouldn't be done has no bearing on what the plants' owner intends. If we want plants that barely survive rather than thrive, by all means leave them on top of the ground w/o protection to make a point. When considering things from the perspective of what best serves the plant, there is no absolutely no doubt the plants could only benefit from protection should they need over-wintering in a location other than a planting hole.

Al

There's the convenient excuse for doing less than "what should/shouldn't be done".

There is absolutely no doubt the plants could only benefit from being removed from pots, and planted - no matter where they are located.

Short that, they would benefit from protection in over-wintering - almost anywhere they are located. But that's not as good as going ahead and planting them.

Short that, these species don't need protection in over-wintering in zone 7. That's not as good as protecting them - but is satisfactory given the conditions presented.

You don't demonstrate experience handling/growing these plants in zone 7 conditions, to make the statement that "plants that barely survive rather than thrive" will be the result. It is baseless to state that.

The plants' potential owner has asked if particular species of plants purchased now can overwinter above ground successfully. Gardeners with those plants in zone 7 (well south of me) have successfully done so. I know that commercial growers of these species of plants in zone 7 have successfully done so. I know that I have done so, well north of zone 7 conditions. What you believe, well, you believe. The short answer to the question is still yes.

The long answer is simply a debate, and unnecessary argumentation over generalizations.

I would say it might be a risk depending on the type of winter you have in your area. Last winter, I attempted something similar. I tried to overwinter various tree seedlings on the southwest side of our house. Only a few survived. I lost many of the trees that I had worked hard to get going, and I'm supposed to be in zone 6. However when it got really cold, my pots turned into ice blocks, and the trees seemed to rot at the base.

I just remembered one of the trees that I lost was an Austrian Pine that I had bought on sale at Menards for something like under $3. The color faded from the needles and it apparently dried out and died. I would sale go for the sales, but then maybe just stick them in the ground somewhere temporary.

One needn't own a bus or be the driver to know what makes the wheels go round and round.

Al

Yes - but the diesel fuel in the bus doesn't curdle in zone 7...

Doesnt gel in the tanks. Depends on the source, fuel, and model of said vehicle- and no promises then, either. For plant or machine.
Replace that with plant issues; condition of plants, sheltering areas they are in, proper size of pots they are in, and IF your winter maintains its norm. Quick answer, like VV says- should be fine

Unless the water freezes and the likelihood of that is high. They don't make a winter blend of water like they do fuel and you can't add anything to water like you can fuel. This discussion has gone way past ridiculous IMHO. The OP is long gone I doubt they will return, I knw I wouldn't. Oh well, it's not like DG could use new members.

Comparisons Lisa, you arent worrying about water making the wheels go round. What you add to water to keep it from freezing is as unpalatable as diesel and antigels. Never know when folks come and go- or just bait us to watch us roll...