How to Protect Your Trees During Winter and the Storm Season

Winter Tree Protection

Why Winter and Storm Protection Matters

Trees that seem strong and resilient can be surprisingly vulnerable to winter conditions. The combination of freezing temperatures, heavy snow, ice, and high winds can cause serious and sometimes irreversible damage. A little preparation goes a long way in preventing common issues that can weaken or even kill a tree.

Protecting your trees helps prevent:

• Broken Branches: Heavy snow and ice can weigh down limbs, causing them to snap. This not only harms the tree but also creates a safety hazard.
• Frost Cracking: Rapid temperature fluctuations can cause the trunk to crack, creating an entry point for pests and diseases.
• Root Damage: Frozen ground can damage shallow roots, especially in young or newly planted trees.
• Dehydration: Cold, dry winds can strip moisture from evergreen needles and bark, leading to a condition known as winter burn.

By preparing for winter, you are investing in the long-term health of your landscape and preventing potential property damage from falling limbs.

Actionable Steps to Protect Your Trees

1. Inspect Your Trees

Before the weather turns, take a walk around your property and carefully inspect each tree. Look for dead, damaged, or diseased branches. These are the most likely to fail during a storm. Also, check for weak V-shaped unions where branches meet the trunk, as these are more prone to splitting than stronger, U-shaped unions.

2. Prune Wisely
Late fall or early winter, after the leaves have dropped, is an ideal time to prune most deciduous trees. Removing weak and dead wood reduces the risk of branches breaking under the weight of snow or in high winds. Proper pruning also helps improve the tree's structure and promotes healthy growth in the spring.

3. Apply a Layer of Mulch

Mulch is one of a tree's best friends. Applying a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch, such as wood chips or shredded bark, around the base of your trees provides numerous benefits. It insulates the soil, protecting roots from extreme temperature fluctuations. It also helps retain soil moisture and reduces competition from weeds.

4. Water Thoroughly Before the First Freeze

Trees need adequate moisture to get through the winter. If you've had a dry fall, give your trees a deep watering before the ground freezes solid. This is especially important for evergreens and newly planted trees. Use a soaker hose or let a regular hose trickle slowly at the base of the tree until the soil is thoroughly saturated. This ensures the tree's roots have access to water before the ground becomes an impenetrable block of ice.

5. Use Tree Wraps for Young Trees

Young, thin-barked trees are highly susceptible to frost cracking and sunscald. Protect their delicate trunks by using commercial tree wrap. Starting from the bottom, wrap the trunk up to the first set of branches, overlapping each layer by about one-third. The wrap reflects sunlight and insulates the bark, preventing the rapid temperature changes that cause cracking.

6. Provide Support with Staking or Cabling

For newly planted trees or those with a known structural weakness, staking can provide extra support against strong winds. Use two or three stakes placed outside the root ball and attach them to the trunk with wide, flexible material like canvas strapping. The ties should be snug but allow the tree to sway slightly, which helps it develop a stronger trunk.