How to Cover Trees for Frost

Even dormant trees are susceptible to death from frost damage.

Trees and plants can be in danger of damage and even death during the winter, especially in areas that receive massive amounts of rain, snow and ice. Young trees, in particular, are quite vulnerable. These trees have not developed the very thick bark on the exterior of their trunks and boss limbs that is meant to protect the softer, living interior from extreme temperatures. Trees are surprisingly expensive to purchase, and you'll want to winterize the ones you have to protect them throughout the season. Cover both the roots and the body of the tree correctly to avoid frost damage.

Things You'll Need

• Heavy-duty pruning shears
• Organic mulch
• Brown kraft paper
• Natural twine

Instructions

1. Prune your trees to remove any deadwood. Remove low-hanging branches that may break under the weight of snow and ice. Keep your cuts as shallow as possible to protect the live growth.

2. Cut off suckers at the base of the tree and new off-shoot growth on branches at their base. The tree will do much better if it does not waste resources on this unnecessary material.

3. Spread organic mulch around the tree to cover the roots. Extend the mulch coverage out several inches past the endpoint of the farthest spreading branches. The mulch will protect the roots from the cold.

4. Wrap the trunk of the tree and the boss limbs in two layers of brown kraft paper. Secure the paper with natural twine. Change the paper as it becomes soggy or begins to fall apart during the winter.

References

• University of Georgia School of Forest Resources Extension; Winterizing Trees: Dormant Season Preparations; Kim D. Coder; June 1996
• The Ohio State University; School of Environment & Natural Resources; Tree Wrap; T. Davis Sydnor
• University of Minnesota Extension; Protecting Trees and Shrubs Against Winter Damage; Bert T. Swanson and Richard Rideout
• Snake River Tree Service: How to Winterize Your Trees