Trees covered with snow in the winter garden.

Protect Trees and Shrubs From Winter Damage

Part 3 of a 3-part series

You have spent a chunk of change as well as your time in effort in establishing trees. They are leafing out and adding character and color and perhaps a little shade in your yard. What are you doing to prevent your investment from:

• Heat Stress
• Rabbits and Deer
• Wisconsin Winters

Wisconsin’s harsh winter climate can cause severe damage to plants.

Winter sun, wind and cold temperatures can bleach and dry out evergreen foliage damage bark or injure or kill branches, flower buds, and roots.
Snow and ice can break branches and topple entire trees.
Salt used for deicing streets, sidewalks and parking lots is harmful to landscape plants.
Winter food shortages force rodents and deer to feed on bark, twigs, flower buds and leaves, injuring and sometimes killing trees and shrubs.

Here are 7 ideas that can help you protect your garden from Wisconsin's harsh winters.

Fall Watering Plants to Prevent Winter Root Damage Evergreens, newly planted trees and woody plants need to be watered frequently during the fall (especially during a dry fall season). During a deep freeze (when the ground freezes) roots can no longer absorb moisture from the soil and become dependent on what they’ve stored in the fall. The primary cause of winter damage to evergreens is from dehydration. Evergreens don’t lose their foliage in the winter and will continue to transpire. If they haven’t stored sufficient water, they may suffer burning or browning of the foliage.

Soil temperatures below 10°F can cause severe damage and kill the roots of most trees. While it may seem counterintuitive, moist soil is able to hold more heat than dry soil. In order to maximize root growth in the fall and minimize winter root injury, a 3 to 6-inch layer of wood chips or organic mulch should be used around your trees, plants, and shrubs.

Repeated freezing and thawing of soil in fall or spring causes soil to expand and contract, which can damage roots and heave shrubs and new plantings out of the ground. A 4-6 inch layer of mulch will prevent heaving by maintaining more constant soil temperatures.

Snow and ice storm covering neighborhood The proper pruning and trimming of your trees and shrubs will help to avoid damage caused by snow and ice accumulation. Tying leaders together, cabling larger trees, or wrapping smaller trees is an option. Seek assistance from a tree professional, the improper application of these alternatives can cause more harm than good.

These ties, wraps, and cablings must be removed in the spring to avoid girdling and return free movement to the stems and branches. The best overall strategy for protecting your trees and shrubs from animal browsing is to reduce areas of habitat and erect physical barriers to prevent them from getting to your plants.

Deer, rabbits, and rodents will begin to feed on foliage, twigs, and bark as their normal food sources become unattainable in the winter months. The foraging of these animals poses a great threat to the health and life of your trees, shrubs, and plants. Here are some simple solutions like trunk wrapping to keep your landscape safe from these critters and their appetites:

Putting plastic tree guards around the bottom of your trees (especially young or newly planted trees) will keep rabbits and mice from feasting on them. If you live in areas which accumulate snow, the guards should be well above the snow line. Otherwise, your efforts will be in vain.

Chicken Wire Barriers – This is the best solution for rabbits. Erecting chicken wire fences/cages around your trees, shrubs, and plants will keep them out of harm’s way.

Deer and Pest Repellent Spray – Applying a repellant spray to the trunks, branches, and stems of your trees is a great option, especially if you have numerous trees on your property. Repellant sprays are easy to come by at nurseries and home supply stores that have a gardening department.

Trunk Wrapping for Deer Prevention – Deer love to rub their antlers on tree trunks. That said, if you live in an area where deer graze, it is a prudent idea to wrap your most vulnerable tree trunks. Take a look at the following video for a smart and inexpensive way to wrap your tree trunks.

The chloride in road salt corrodes vehicles and bridges and can be harmful to pets. According to an expert in the field of corrosion of metals in concrete, one ton of road salt does about $1,500 worth of corrosion damage to bridges, vehicles and environment. And keep in mind we use tons of salt each year just in the metro areas alone.

Protect Trees and Shrubs From Winter Damage

Part 3 of a 3-part series

Read more: Alternatives To Winter Salt