Gardening: Tips To Protect Trees And Shrubs This Winter So They'll Spring Back Next Year

In the coming winter months, inclement weather and starving animals can make the colder months difficult for some plants. The coldest months of the year can be the hardest on the health of the trees and shrubs, the plants that form the backbone of most living landscapes. Sudden extremes of temperature, occasional humidity, drying winds and even starving wildlife can wreak havoc on trees and shrubs that may not emerge until the following spring, when these plants emerge from their dormant state.

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Here are six tips to help trees and shrubs in your landscape avoid dead branches, chewed bark and frozen roots this winter.

1. The right plant in the right place

You may have heard me say the phrase "the right plant in the right place". And that's because maintaining healthy plants is the cornerstone of gardening. The best way to increase the chances that your trees and shrubs will survive harsh winters is to choose tree and shrub species that are best suited to the climate here in the Columbus metropolitan area.

We should only choose plants that are known to thrive in our hardiness zone, namely zone 6. Native species adapt very well to our climate, soil and pest complexes and are the best choice when planting new trees and shrubs in the landscape.

2. Water the plants well

Most gardeners understand the need to keep the soil moist during the hot, dry summer months, but it's also important to keep trees and shrubs moist during the winter months. Water, not a soil nutrient, is usually the limiting factor for adequate growth of trees and shrubs.

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While winter weather generally provides adequate soil moisture, cooler temperatures, and lower evaporation pressure, don't overlook a short-term shortage of soil moisture. The last few weeks have been relatively dry in the Columbus area and many dormant trees and shrubs will benefit from a watering. Water trees and shrubs deeply to keep the root zone 12 to 18 inches below the soil surface moist. If there is little rain in the fall and early winter, water until the ground freezes.

3. Insulate the roots from temperature changes

Some trees and shrubs are very sensitive to cold and soil temperature fluctuations in winter and need additional protection at ground level. This applies especially to young and recently planted trees and shrubs. Snow cover protects plant root zones and lowers soil temperatures, but we cannot expect 12 inches of permanent snow cover all winter every year, especially with a changing climate.

A 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch around the root zone of trees and shrubs provides a layer of insulation, no matter how much snow we encounter this winter. A mulch of wood chips, straw, leaves and compost is a good mulch option that lowers soil temperature, retains soil moisture and prevents delicate roots from freezing in winter.

4. Prevent damage to the creature

Deer, rabbits, rats and mice use the bark of trees and shrubs for winter food, especially when other food sources are scarce. The resulting damage can easily kill trees and shrubs because all the conductive plant tissue needed to transport moisture and nutrients throughout the plant is located right in the bark of woody plant stems. This means that even minor consumption by wildlife can kill these plants.

If your landscape is under severe wildlife pressure, consider protecting shrubbery and saplings from starving animals this winter. Installing protective barriers at the base of trees and shrubs up to 24 inches high can be an effective way to prevent damage from wildlife. ¼ inch metal wire mesh can provide an effective and simple barrier to wildlife.

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Do not mount the barrier directly into the bark of the tree, but instead place it an inch or two above the surface of the trunk or trunk of the plant. For added protection, bury the bottom edge of the tool cloth a few inches below the soil to prevent animals from digging down to reach the plants. Plastic tree fencing sold at garden centers is also an effective barrier against trees and shrubs.

5. Pay attention to the windshield

Some trees that remain green during the winter, such as conifers such as pine, fir, and pine, and hardwood trees such as boxwood and rhododendron, may stop growing but do not overwinter completely and may be damaged by drying winter winds. In very windy landscaped areas, protect shrubs and small trees by wrapping burlap loosely around the leaves.

There are also "forest jackets" on the market, which are woven plant blankets with a print of green foliage on the outside, making them a bit more interesting than burlap in certain key areas of the landscape, such as the front of a house.

6. Don't forget sunscreen

Trees with thin bark, such as maple, beech and fruit trees, are prone to sunburn in winter. In fact, on a hot day, the cold tree trunks are quickly heated by the sun's rays. The resulting internal and external temperature differences can cause cortical cracks and kill conductive tissue.

You can protect young or newly planted thin-skinned varieties from sunburn by covering their stems for the winter. There are many wood wrap products on the market and plastic tree barriers that protect trees from wildlife also provide protection from sunburn.

Follow these tips for protecting trees and shrubs over the winter to ensure they have everything they need to come back to life when the growing season begins next spring.

Mike Hogan is an associate professor at Ohio State University and an OSU Extension instructor.

hogan.1@osu.edu

This article first appeared in The Columbus Dispatch: Gardening: Tips for Protecting Trees and Strub This Winter for Next Year's Blossoms.