Your trees are entering one of the most critical times of the year – winter dormancy. While it might look like nothing is happening above ground, your trees are working hard to conserve energy and survive the cold. Without a little help from you, the winter could really take a toll on your trees. Here’s what you can do to help:
- Protect the Roots with Mulch: Tree roots are especially vulnerable to extreme cold and fluctuating soil temperatures. When the ground freezes and thaws repeatedly, it can cause stress to the roots and tree’s ability to absorb water.
- Wrap the Trunks to Prevent Cracking: Sudden temperature changes can cause bark splitting. This can happen when warm daytime sun heats one side of the trunk and rapid cooling at night causes the bark to contract too quickly. Wrapping your trunks helps to create a stable temperature for them.
- Keep Trees Hydrated Until the Ground Freezes: Just because the weather is cooler doesn’t mean your trees don’t need water. Dry winter winds can quickly dehydrate trees so it’s important that you hydrate them as much as you can before the ground freezes.