Growing Green

By Robin Trott, Extension Educator

With our mild winter there is still time to protect your landscape trees from winter woes. Acting now can help your young yard trees brave winter conditions and wildlife, says the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Nikki Henger, the DNR’s Forestry Division Outreach Specialist, underscores the benefits of yard trees, from cleaning the air to enhancing our surroundings. Supporting them in winter sets the stage for thriving in the summer.

Here are five simple steps to care for trees in the winter:

1. Mulch and Water: Add a 3-inch layer of mulch, keeping it at least 3 inches from the trunk and spanning about 3 feet in diameter.

2. Tidy Up Around Trees: Reduce wildlife risks by removing nesting places like tall grasses, brush piles, tarps, or water bags around trees.

3. Wrap Young Trees: Use tree wraps or plastic guards to protect against rabbits, rodents, and sunscald.  Wrap newly planted trees for at least two winters and thin barked species for at least five winters.  Sunscald occurs when the sun heats the trunk, followed by quick freezing at night, causing bark to crack.  Remove tree guards in late spring.

4. Add Fencing: Create effective barriers with wire fencing, hardware cloth or poultry netting. Bury fencing 2-3 inches below the ground and extend it about 2 feet above the anticipated snow line for a critter-proof barrier. Periodically check fenced areas to prevent trapping wildlife. For areas frequented by deer, consider a 10-foot woven wire fence to reduce damage. Bud capping is a method to shield white pine seedling from deer browse – fold a 4”x6” piece of paper in half and staple it around the top leader of the tree until it grows out of reach.

5. Pruning with a Certified Arborist: Winter is an ideal time to consult a certified arborist for pruning. Lower disease transmission risks, like oak wilt, exist in winter, and the absence of leaves makes it easier to visualize tree branching structure.

Yard trees require year – round attention and provide an excellent reason to go outdoors! Following these winter tree care steps provides extra protection, ensuring a strong start in the spring growing season. For more information on residential tree care, visit the DNR’s tree care webpage or www.extension.umn.edy/planting-and-growing-guides/protecting-trees-and-shrubs-winter.

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“Winter trees, light and lean, warm the season with their bold brown hues.” ~Angela Abraham