I received several emails with concerns about what kind of care container trees require, to get them through the winter. Some of the emails were from folks in apartments and their potted trees were also exposed to high winds; a double whammy. Over-wintering containers takes some experimentation. There are several things to take into account, when growing trees in containers, no matter where you live. First, choose a tree suited to your growing conditions, whether it is sunny, shady, wet or dry. Make sure the tree is hardy to a couple of zones below your USDA hardiness rating. That way it should be able to handle winter temperatures, even though it is above the frost line. Some less obvious problems include how much to water and too much winter sun. Strong southern exposure sunlight can cause trunks and branches to freeze, thaw and eventually crack, during winter. As for watering, most trees will be dormant during cold winters, so they will need less water. Don't leave them dry for ...