citrus trees

[rockriver]

I've tried to grow citrus (orange, lemon, Satsuma, etc...)
we live in area a little on the cold side..
trees that I planted in 13 died over this cold and wet winter.
---
this summer I took a trip to visit a garden/wholesaler and the guy had bunches of citrus... long trip but about our same climate.
I tried to buy citrus, but he refused to sell to me and other co-visiters! he missed sales!
his response was "come back in October/November keep the plant sheltered over the winter and then plant in the spring.

sounded good to me...
we went back about a month or more ago and bought several trees... again, it was a long trip, but if he was willing to miss the profit from a sale, he had credibility with me.
I checked them today in our small shed... loaded with 2 kinds of satsumas and lemons.
I'm trying to figure out where the trees will be protected the best.

seller's citrus trees that are established are in groups of Leland cypress trees. they get lots of shade but seller says the big trees, help keep wind off the citrus!

so... any ideas on how to make these things thrive and how I can keep them alive and warm?

[thedreamers]

Here in central FL we have no problems most times. We have family n friends that grow then as far north as southern Ga.. Some keep them pruned to stay dwarf size to make keeping warm easier. What some do is put a heat lamp at the base on the really cold nights. Others keeps about 5 trees under a hoop barn in winter then open it up in summer, and some grow the in large pots an put a carport over them.

[motesjm]

Let me know if you figure it out. I've had terrible luck in south Alabama.