Winterized Japanese Maple

 

Song:  River Flows In You (cover)

Original Composer and Performing Artist:  Yiruma

Performing Artist:  Piano_Man

As I was still feeling a little under the weather today...

I just pulled a bag of weeds...

and I then winterized the Japanese Maple.

For the rest of the day...

I just took it easy.

I am sipping from a large mug of my peppermint tea as I type this...

after which I will take a dose of NyQuil (cold and flu)...

and then go to bed early.

I started the day with a large bowl of beef ramen and some kimchi

(I was going to make beef udon...

but I all of a sudden felt like beef ramen).

The spices and the hot liquid made me feel a lot better.

I then went to the ACE hardware store in Cripple Creek.

They had just what I needed to complete the job.

I first surrounded the tree by wrapping the plastic around the support posts...

as a major wind break.

I then weighted down the Western facing side...

as this is from where the majority of strong winds come

(I weighted down the other side as well).

I then thoroughly soaked the soil.

I brought up a bag of wood mulch to act as an insulator for the top soil

surrounding the tree...

as well as for part of the trunk of the tree.

I then placed the empty bag over the tree branches 

(with openings at the bottom to allow moisture to escape).

I weighted down the bag on one side...

but left plenty of space around the other sides to allow airflow.

Trapped moisture could lead to rot.

That is a major reason I didn't place any insulative material too high.

It would retain moisture and be in direct contact with the tree...

which could lead to damage to the branches...

or to the tree itself.

Now...

when it snows...

even the snow will act as an insulator...

and slowly release its moisture around the tree.

I will still water the tree occasionally during winter...

but not nearly so much as during warmer weather.

The tree will mostly be in a dormant state during cold weather.

I will have to see how the plastic holds up during a blizzard.

It should do okay...

as although the wind sometimes has wild gusts...

for the most part...

the winds are gentle up here.

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If I feel up to it...

I will work on the 2nd deck tomorrow.