That someone said they used Christmas lights on their fruit trees to keep late frosts from damaging blooms. Since all the Christmas lights in my local stores are at half price, I picked up a few sets. If you have used Christmas lights to frost protect your trees, I'd like to know what kind of lights you used and how well it worked. I think its a great idea and maybe I will get some peaches finally. Ic can't remember where I got the tip, but I'd like to thank you anyway. This definitely wasn't an idea I thought up.
Twasn’t my idea, either – but pretty and potentially productive! It seems clear would be best; heating the surrounding surface as opposed to ‘the bulb’ itself. I suspect a ‘color’ would ad, or would that be absorb a smidgen of the photons?
Yes – a great question! Let me in on any answers, too – those bulbs will be half price (or less) in a week or two!
I wrapped my Trachycarpus fortunei (two large ones with trunks about 10-12 inches in diameter, planted last year on a slope) with bubble wrap and then burlap and finally Christmas tree lights. We placed the wrap far enough up the trunk to hopefully protect the growing tip. Right now they are under about three feet of snow (!!@@#%#*) which on the hill means they are almost buried.
I'll let you know in the spring...even through the snow I can see the brave little lights glowing.
I must say, we've been snowed in for three days and wish it were possible to be forced to stay home at a time when gardening could be done....
[quote="kartini":2aiy80nb]I wrapped my Trachycarpus fortunei (two large ones with trunks about 10-12 inches in diameter, planted last year on a slope) with bubble wrap and then burlap and finally Christmas tree lights. We placed the wrap far enough up the trunk to hopefully protect the growing tip. Right now they are under about three feet of snow (!!@@#%#*) which on the hill means they are almost buried.
I'll let you know in the spring...even through the snow I can see the brave little lights glowing.
I must say, we've been snowed in for three days and wish it were possible to be forced to stay home at a time when gardening could be done....[/quote:2aiy80nb]
A quick google search says they are hardy to 10 degrees. It isn't getting that cold there for you is it?
Hopefully I'm reading your post incorrectly. The lights are on the inside followed by the wrapping to retain the heat and break the wind, right?
For something that can withstand frost the snow should only help.
We wrapped the bubble wrap first and then the burlap and finally the lights, less to keep the trunk warm (and avoid burning the plastic) than to create a warmer zone around the tree. It hasn't been 10-- but more like 25, but when the wind howls..who knows?
We have been snowed in and completely house bound for 4 days up here on Bald Peak. Good thing I believe in storing provisions. We are not unhappy (though our furnace broke) because the fireplace(s) and Aga keep us warm, but the young folks are restless.
It sounds like your tree should be fine. Even if it were to get real cold the burlap and plastic will at least break the wind and maybe smooth out the temperature changes.
We've been snowed in since Friday too and getting cabin fever. I could probably bear being stuck a lot longer, but my wife gets antsy and everyone else in the house needs to share in the experience 
We have chains and could go out if we needed to, but the need hasn't been that strong. We will be going out to dinner in Portland today though.
We've been eating a lot. As long as we have electricity we won't be hurting for food. I still have your sourdough culture and plenty of flour. I made maybe the best loaf of bread to date last night. We have 1/4 cow in the freezer. But we're just about out of milk and eggs and some other things that are nice to have.
I’m not expecting any fruit trees to be damaged from the cold or the snow load but I’m plenty tired of this. We’ve been snowbound for six days, and when power finally went out 3 days ago it stopped being much fun… I’ve got a woodstove and generator going and finished digging out the driveway yesterday. I’ve got chains and a 4WD but have no need, if desire.. to risk it on the road.
I rode into Gaston yesterday with a neighbor, mainly for the adventure. We passed 2 ditched vehicles and watched another (oncoming) lose it as we approached! Streets were packed snow/ice; I slid across toward the store. Back up at the homestead we’ve got 28 inches of snow/packed snow & ice ... a lifetime record for me, having spent most of my Winter Vacation’s out here, as opposed to Portland where I grew up.
Plenty of food and fuel, the generator is annoying but keeps us in tune with the world. Things are attempting to melt, if very slowly, but they’re predicting another 3 to 5 inches again tonight. A White Christmess? I was expecting to get the bulk of my pruning done this week and next but may be lucky just to see green grass…
Wait a minute – things just got better! I’m being fed golden brown marshmallows from the Gaston Market toasted on the wood stove coals. Life’s Good!
the LED type lights put out very little heat. You would want an older type.
Sounds like it may be a good idea. Actually, I think having a few lights at the base of a tree would radiate the heat upward pretty well, and that you would not need to string a whole bunch into any one tree. Guess it all depends on how big the plant is.
I do leave a light on the front porch where we winter our Geraniums to get some radiant heat on really cold nights.
Incandescent is much better than flourescent for heat.
Ok here's the results. My Hearken peach (or is it Reliance?) has 3 peaches set on it. BUT, I don't think the lights had anything to do with it. I went out on several frosty mornings and 'perceived' a slight frost difference to about 2 inches from each bulb. These were the large C9 bulbs for outdoor use. I think it really didn't make any difference. I was just wishing it did so much I was seeing through wishful eyes. I had 50 bulbs on the tree. It might work if you turned the whole tree into a light bulb but its not worth it in my opinion. Each bulb is 7 watts I think and just can't heat a very large area. So now I have these lights I think 'TP' the neighbors yard with them. I will go out late one night and string them in his bushes and then plug them into my outlet. Sorry to bring this back up but thought some might want to know my results.
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