Nothing is worse than watching your new plantings being eaten by rabbits and deer. These furry critters are notorious for leaving wreckage in their wake, particularly during fall and winter when food sources become scarce. Damage can occur by chewing off leaves and buds that rob the plant of valuable food sources. Bark damage can cause wounds that create long-term decay in the plant, or if severe enough can kill a tree outright.
Why Winterize?
Protection from Animal Damage: Deer, rabbits, and other critters can cause significant harm to trees during the winter when food is scarce. They may gnaw on bark, twigs, and even young trees.
Prevention of Disease and Pests: Winter conditions can weaken trees, making them more susceptible to diseases and pests. Proper winterization can help bolster their defenses.
Enhanced Tree Healthy: Winterizing practices promote overall tree health and longevity. They can help trees better withstand extreme temperatures and snow and ice loads.
There are several ways to protect your trees and shrubs from animal damage. Repellent sprays, burlap wrapping, or fencing are all possible options to keep your trees and shrubs looking their best, staying healthy and preparing them for spring. There are pros and cons to each option and sometimes the form and structure of the plant will dictate which type of protection is best.
Boxwood and Arborvitaes
These tightly formed evergreens are often protected with burlap. The burlap protects against animal feeding, but just as importantly, winter burn. Boxwood bushes that experience full sunlight in winter tend to be more susceptible to drying out by the fluctuations in temperature brought on by the winter sunlight. Burlap can also help protect against heavy wet snow, allowing the bushes to maintain their form while shedding snow. Burlap wrapping can be labor intensive and it’s important to remove it early in spring so it doesn’t interfere with spring growth for the plant.
Tree Trunks
New trees are most susceptible to deer damage. In the fall it is common for deer rub to damage the tender new bark of young trees. A simple corrugated drain pipe, slit down the side and wrapped around the trunk provides excellent protection against damage from animals and protects against winter burn. Airflow between the tree and the protector allows the bark to dry out and does not retain moisture. This is superior to paper trunk wraps that are placed tightly around the trunk and could leave moisture next to the trunk for prolonged periods of time. Trunk protectors are not always possible as many plants are wide, and have multiple stems or low-hanging branches that don’t allow for trunk protectors.
Metal Wire
Wire fencing can be an easy and versatile option for protecting your valuable plants. This type of protection works well for multi-stem plants or plants with low branches. Screening such as this will also help against voles that might chew around the base of the plant. Screening does a good job against animal damage but doesn’t help against winter burn from the temperature fluctuations that can occur in the winter.
Spray Treatments for Anti-Desiccation and Animal Repellents
Spray treatments are available to protect plants from winter burn. This is often done on evergreens. A waxy protectant is sprayed on the needles and prevents the plants from drying out. The coating eventually wears off in the spring so it doesn’t interfere with the growth of the plant when the weather starts to warm up.
Animal repellant sprays can be a convenient way to protect plants from deer and rabbits, rather than installing time-consuming fencing or burlap wrapping. There are many types of products on the market. Many of these need multiple applications throughout the winter season while products such as what Hoppe Tree Service uses are applied once late in the fall season and provide season-long protection from animal browsing.
Watering and Mulch
Proper watering and moisture in the soil is an important aspect for a plant to make it through a long tough winter. It’s important that before the ground freezes there is adequate soil moisture. Root systems can remain active in the winter and if the soil is dry the plant can dry out and not have enough energy come spring. This is very important for evergreens, as winter drying can be a major problem, especially if we have a winter with less than-average precipitation.
Mulch provides insulation to the root system of a plant, moderating the temperature and protecting the roots from the cold. Organic mulch can be very beneficial as it breaks down into nutrients for the plant. Bark, wood, straw, or leaves can all be used to insulate root systems. Plants in containers or borderline hardy plants can benefit from supplemental mulch to insulate their root systems.
Don't Wait! Winterize Your Trees Today
By taking proactive steps to winterize your trees, you can help them thrive through the harsh Wisconsin winter. Additionally, plants that have experienced animal damage may require special care to recover. Our team of Certified Arborists can assess the extent of any damage and provide tailored recommendations for treatment, including watering, fertilization, and pruning. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help protect your trees and ensure their long-term health and beauty.
Comments