When the winds begin to blow and flakes swirl in the air, the only tree on the mind of many folks is the holiday tree with sparkling lights and ornaments. However, trees in winter require attention too. Trees are living things. Therefore, these plants necessitate a defense from the winter months as severe conditions could produce considerable damage.
Trees in Winter: How to Avoid the Hazards
Sun Scald – If their dormant tissue remains inactive, trees are improbable of experiencing harm from cold. If sunlight hits a young tree’s bark, it could warm the tissue to generate local activity. When night comes and the temps fall, active cells die, resulting in tree damage.
The most innovative way to safeguard your trees from sun-scald is to shield them from winter sun exposure. Some tree experts paint tree trunks white to reflect the light, keeping the bark cool. You could also create some shade with a fence or cover the trunk with a tree wrap.
Foliar Damage to Evergreens
The same occurrence that creates sun scald could also destroy the leaves of evergreen trees. Evergreen foliage could experience extreme dryness from exposure to blistering winter winds. The trees affected the most are freshly planted evergreens.
Keep your evergreens attractively green by covering them with shrub wrap or burlap. Temporary screens could also help. Make sure to deeply water your evergreens in the autumn to help leaf tissues remain hydrated during the wintertime.
Root Damage
Tree roots don’t enjoy the extreme cold. When soil temps go under around 15˚, the hearts endure injury or death. For seeds to remain comfortable, water them abundantly in the autumn since moist soil retains heat better than dry ground.
It’s also an excellent idea to mulch your trees for the wintertime. Applying a couple of inches of mulch around new trees will aid in insulating the ground and stop frost. Make sure the mulch isn’t directly on the trunk. When mulch is on the trunk, the area becomes a home for mice and other pests.
Animal Damage
Deer might be cute to see, but nothing is tastier than the bark and branches of a young tree when they get hungry.
Deers, especially, love suburban backyards. They are bold, significant, and can impose plenty of destruction quickly. Keeping them away from your trees could be daunting work. Install an anti-deer fence, repellants, or motion-activated lights.
They hate blood smelling, so hanging strips of cloth dipped in blood meal solution could be helpful. If deer are overflowing in your area, you may want to plant a deer-resistant tree type like spruce or holly.
Tips to Stop Winter Tree Damage
Here are some tips to aid in keeping your trees healthy during the cold months:
Think snow
Don’t plant trees in spots where vast amounts of snow will probably amass or where snowplows will possibly blow snow.
Enough water
Accurate watering every month keeps plants vigorous and aids them in enduring winter weather. It’s vital not to under or over water in late summer through autumn.
Correct winter tree care is contingent on tree type and location. While these tips are an excellent beginning point, nothing tops community experience. If you desire to provide your trees with the best maintenance, talk with the tree contractors at Hickory Tree Service.