Ask Extension - Over-wintering 1200 tree seedlings in pots (Tree Planting)

Hello! I have roughly 1000 oak trees (mostly burr oak) and about 150 red and silver maples that I grew from seed harvested last fall and in early spring. They are in 4" x 4" x 8" tapered square pots. How can I best over-winter them for up-potting in the spring?

Extension Message
From:	Christopher Evans Forestry Extension and Research Specialist Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences cwevans@illinois.edu

Hi Dana, The biggest danger to unplanted seedlings over winter is freezing and/or drying out. As such, these started trees should not be left outside during the winter. Iowa State University has a good summary of options available at https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/overwintering-unplanted-trees-shrubs-and-perennials.

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