Tips to Protect Your Trees in Winter
Tips to Protect Your Trees in Winter
Between the cold temperatures, snow, ice, and damaging winds, your young and mature trees are subjected to the harshest conditions during the winter months. As a homeowner, you want to ensure your trees remain safe and healthy, but you may not be sure what you are supposed to do. Don't worry, and instead follow these simple tips to care for your trees in the winter.
Protect the Root System
Even though your tree looks dormant above the ground, it doesn't mean that the root system is not still growing and thriving below the ground. Typically, if the temperatures are above freezing, your roots will continue to grow at the same pace as in summer and fall. Once the temperatures fall, the root's growth begins to slow.
A vital, thriving root system is critical to the tree's survival. Here are a few tips to help you ensure your root system is protected throughout the entire winter:
- Mulch around your trees. Spread a layer of mulch around the tree. Leave the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to avoid damaging and decaying the trunk.
- Ensure the ground is moist before it freezes. Dampen the soil a few inches deep. If there isn't much rainfall in the fall, do this before the first hard frost. This helps prevent the heavy frost on the soil's surface from penetrating to the roots.
- Avoid spreading ice melt near trees. Ice melt contains chemicals that can damage the delicate tree roots.
Keep an eye on the ground surrounding the tree and if you notice any roots growing out of the ground, cover them with soil immediately to protect them against snow and ice.
Prevent Animal Damage
Hungry, cold animals will look to your trees as a source of food and protection in winter. Protecting the trees from the damage caused by a variety of animals can prevent damage that is dangerous to your trees, no matter what the season. Here are a few things you can do to keep your trees safe from animal damage this winter:
- Clear snow away from the base of the tree. Shovel snow from around the base of your trees. Heavy snowdrifts provide ideal protection for small animals, such as mice, from predators.
- Move any mulch touching the trunk. Redistribute any mulch that has piled up around the tree. In addition to causing decay, mulch is a great place for small animals to eat, sleep, and eventually nest.
- Wrap young, vulnerable trees. Use plastic, fabric, or another tree wrap that is recommended by your tree care specialist to protect younger trees from damage.
Keep an eye on your trees and watch for which animals are damaging your tree. Once you spot the perpetrator, purchase a deterrent specifically designed to keep that animal away. Apply the deterrent around the trees as recommended by the manufacturer. Remember that the deterrent will likey wash away when the snow melts, so make sure to reapply it as needed.
Contact a Professional to Prune the Trees
Because trees are in a latent period during winter, pruning them during the colder months is often a good idea because it helps avoid damaging new growth. However, before you pick up your pruning shears, keep in mind that over pruning or cutting off the wrong branches and twigs can damage your trees, even when they are dormant.
No matter what the season, when it comes to pruning your trees, consider leaving this task to a professional.
The winter poses unique threats to the health and vitality of your trees, which is why you need to protect them when the temperatures drop. Contact the professionals at Baumann Tree with any further questions and concerns.
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