9 April 2018
 Categories: , Blog

Spring may be here now, but winter will be back before you know it. When it does return, you'll need to be ready to protect your trees. You see, trees are at their most vulnerable during the winter, when they're in full hibernation mode. During that time, freezing temperatures, snow, and ice can wreak havoc on your trees. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to help protect your trees. Here are three steps you should take to prevent some of the most common winter risks your trees can face.

Prevent Frost Cracks

You might not realize this, but your trees can actually crack during episodes of severe frost. This is particularly true when the temperatures drop too quickly. When the temperatures drop quickly, and frost appears, the bark on your tree can contract drastically. When that happens, your tree will develop deep cracks. Unfortunately, trees usually don't heal from frost cracks. Instead, they seal up with a layer of sap, only to burst open again the next time the temperatures drop abruptly. You can prevent frost cracks by wrapping your tree trunks in burlap.

Protect Against Winter Burn

If you have evergreens in your yard, you might be surprised to know that they can suffer from desiccation during the winter, which is the loss of water. This happens quite frequently during episodes of high winds. The wind dries out the bark leading to a loss of moisture. Unfortunately, the loss of moisture from the bark leads to winter burn, which can be particularly harmful to evergreens. You can protect against winter burn by giving your evergreens additional water, especially during winter dry spells and after an episode of high winds.

Prevent Root Damage

If you're expecting episodes of freezing temperatures during the winter, you need to make sure that your roots are protected. Those freezing temperatures can destroy the roots of your trees. That's because the bare soil isn't enough to insulate the roots from damage. You can prevent root damage by providing proper insulation.

First, place a layer of material weed barrier around the base of your tree. Don't use plastic sheeting, or your tree won't be able to get adequate moisture. Next, cover the weed barrier with a thick layer of mulch. The weed barrier and the mulch will insulate your roots and prevent damage caused by freezing temperatures.

Don't let your trees fall victim to harsh winter weather. Use the tips provided here to protect your trees against the ravages of winter. For more information, contact your local tree services.