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Don’t LEAF Your Trees Out in the Cold: Winter Tree Care 101

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September 30, 2024 by Joel S.

A frosty winter can be harsh on our leafy friends, but with the right care, trees can weather the chilly season and emerge in spring ready to thrive. Keep reading to learn more about the most important winter tree care tips to ensure your trees remain happy and healthy through the coldest months of winter.

Plant Native

When choosing trees to plant in your yard, we recommend selecting native species. Native trees have a distinct advantage over non-native trees in surviving our winters because they have evolved over time to adapt to local soil, climate and wildlife conditions. Once established, this makes native trees hardier and less prone to pests and diseases, allowing them to better survive our wintery weather.

 

Plant hardiness zones of Southern and Eastern Ontario
Plant hardiness zones of Southern and Eastern Ontario. Image courtesy of Natural Resources Canada

 

Preventative Pruning

During the winter, strong winds along with ice and snow buildup, make weak and vulnerable tree branches more likely to break, particularly on young trees. To reduce the likelihood of broken branches and the stress this can create for trees, we encourage structural pruning. The best time to prune most trees is during the dormant season (late fall/early winter and late winter/early spring), as it is easier to see the tree structure without the leaves. It is important that pruning follows proper arboricultural methods. A great resource for pruning young trees can be found at the Trees are Good website. For work on more mature trees, contact an insured ISA certified arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture.

 

LEAF's Residential Planting Programs Senior Field Coordinator pruning a sugar maple.
© 2022 Brenna Anstett / LEAF. LEAF's Residential Planting Programs Senior Field Coordinator pruning a sugar maple. 

 

Water Your Trees

Trees experience winter drought when they lose more water than they can absorb from the frozen ground. Windy conditions during the winter can exacerbate the drying out process, particularly for evergreens trees. Winter drought creates stress, which  can reduce a tree’s ability to withstand winter conditions. To prevent this, it is important to continue watering your trees in fall until the ground freezes for winter.

On average, young trees should be watered twice per week using approximately six gallons of water each time. This is equivalent to using three two-gallon watering cans or a hose without a nozzle on a slow trickle for 15 minutes, twice per week. It is important to monitor water levels to avoid over and underwatering. To check if your tree needs watering, stick your fingers in the soil under the mulch around your tree. If it is hot and hard, your tree needs a drink, but if it is cool and moist, your tree should be good for another day.

 

LEAF's Residential Planting Programs Operations Supervisor watering an Allegheny Serviceberry Tree.
© 2022 Jon Curtis / LEAF. LEAF's Residential Planting Programs Operations Supervisor watering an Allegheny Serviceberry Tree. 

 

Mulching for Insulation

Mulch helps insulate and protect your tree’s roots from extreme temperature changes over the winter. We suggest spreading a layer of natural mulch (woodchips, leaves or other organic materials) about two-to four inches deep, in a doughnut shape around the base of the tree in late fall before the ground freezes. Ensure the mulch is not piled up against the trunk of the tree (six inches clear) as this can lead to rot. Bonus tip: Add a one to two inch-thick layer of organic compost like cow/sheep manure below the mulch, so your tree has a readily accessible supply of nutrients in the spring to encourage healthy new growth.

 

 A LEAF planter emphasizing the "donut hole" surrounding a freshly mulched tree
 © 2014 LEAF. A LEAF planter emphasizing the "donut hole" surrounding a freshly mulched tree.

 

Tree Guards

Young trees often become targets for animals foraging for scarce food over the winter. To deter animals from chowing down on your trees and causing damage, place a breathable retractable tree guard on the trunk of your tree, or a wire mesh enclosure around the outside of your tree’s mulch ring. Although tree guards may be needed throughout the year, it is important to remove them in early spring to avoid moisture build up, which can lead to rot.

 

A LEAF planted Freeman maple with tree guard
© 2023 Jon Curtis / LEAF. A LEAF planted Freeman maple with tree guard.

 

Burlap Barriers for Evergreens

Native evergreen trees are hardy and can generally withstand our winters. However, if you are concerned about winter injury to your small evergreen trees, building a burlap barrier can help! Place four stakes around the tree and wrap burlap around the stakes, making sure to leave space between the burlap and the foliage (leaves) to allow for air circulation.

 

An evergreen with burlap barrier spaced to allow airflow
Image courtesy of wikiHow is licensed under a CC BY 3.0 licence. An evergreen with burlap barrier spaced to allow airflow.

 

Do Not Apply De-icing Salt Near Trees

Avoid using de-icing salt in the vicinity of trees. These products can seep into the soil around your trees and draw water away from roots, which causes root burn. If you do have slippery surfaces near trees that pose a safety hazard, we suggest using sand as an alternative.

 

Sand applied to a paved surface in winter
Sand applied to a paved surface in winter. Image courtesy of Canva.


 

Want more advice on how to care for your tree? Learn more Tree Care tips or consider booking a consultation with LEAF today to get help planting your next tree!

 

Joel Sloggett is the Residential Planting Programs Field Assistant at LEAF

LEAF offers a subsidized Backyard Tree Planting Program for private property. The program is supported by the City of Toronto, the Regional Municipality of York, Durham Region, the City of Markham, the Town of Newmarket, the Regional Municipality of Durham, the Town of Ajax, the Township of Brock, the Municipality of Clarington, the City of Oshawa, the City of Pickering, the Township of Scugog, the Town of Whitby and Ontario Power Generation.
 

 

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