While trees are in a state of dormancy during the winter, exposure to frigid temperatures, icy winds, and snow can cause them major stress.
Minimizing stress during these cold months can make for a rewarding spring.
Despite being dormant, trees can be at risk of drying out in the winter. Evergreens are particularly prone to drying out because they retain their needles and can lose water all winter long.
The root systems of trees can continue to slowly grow and need moisture. Water is lost through branches and needs to be replenished. As ridiculous as it sounds trees can benefit from a fall watering, especially those without mulch protecting their roots. Plants in moist soils tend to survive winter the best.
The foliage of many evergreens may be injured when exposed to winter winds or afternoon sun. Protection may be provided by the use of shades and screens to cut down wind and to shade plants from sun.
Burlap wrapped around stakes surrounding the plants or placed between the plants on the prevailing wind side is usually better then wrapping an entire tree.
The addition of composted mulch under trees in the fall or early winter will help retain water and reduce temperature extremes. This thin layer of mulch will act like a blanket and give the tree’s roots a little extra winter protection.
Salt wreaks havoc on most trees; it inhibits the plants ability to draw water from soils and can damage leaves and branches. Try reducing the amount of salt used in proximity to trees, or use substitutes such as sand or ash. Trees adjacent to roads can be damaged or killed by salt spray from winter applications of road salt. Certain trees are more salt tolerant and suitable to be planted in these areas such as blue spruce, red oak, locust, and sumac.
Branches are more vulnerable to breakage in the winter, particularly for deciduous trees where the wood hardens and becomes brittle. There is also the problem of snow and ice accumulation which can affect all trees. The solution is to prune the trees to reduce the amount of deep “V” shaped branch unions and removing weak or broken limbs. It is suggested to not knock the branches to remove snow or ice because you might end up breaking the branch.
Winter is one of the best times to prune because it is easier to see the structure of the tree without leaves. Pruning in the late winter just before spring growth starts leaves fresh wounds exposed for only a short period before new growth seals the wounds.
The objectives of pruning are to reduce risk of tree/branch failure, provide clearance, reduce shade and wind resistance, maintain health, influence flower or fruit production, improve a view and improve aesthetics.
There are many rules for pruning. For instance, when removing a branch, slightly cut into the underside of a branch before cutting the top as to not allow bark to tear as it drops. Do not remove a branch that is over one-third the size of its parent branch or stem. Larger cuts will take much longer for a tree to wound over. It is also recommended to only remove up to one third of a tree’s live foliage at a time.
When pruning to maintain health, cut out dead, detached, diseased and damaged branches. If left untreated, these branches can become a hazard or become points of infection.
Good tree structure is categorized by a single dominant stem or trunk and is a desired effect when pruning a tree.
The number and/or size of fruit production can be influenced by pruning. Fruit size can be increased on certain plants such as apples by removing some of the developing fruit or flowers.
Winter is much more stressful for evergreens such as cedars and spruce. The best time to prune the living portions of all evergreen trees is in the spring after the buds have opened. This timing will give cut areas a chance over the summer to prepare themselves for the winter season.
Seedlings that are amongst tall grasses are susceptible to being pushed over, broken or bent over by snow laden grasses. These areas are also home to numerous rodents that feed off these grasses and seedlings as well as creating networks of tunnels in the snow. Mowing in the fall or laying wood chips as mulch will reduce the rodent and snow damage.
Other News
A group of students from the Environmental Sciences Project Course at the University of Guelph is conducting a survey on behalf of the Trees for Mapleton steering committee.
The survey was sent to Mapleton landowners who have or haven’t planted with the Trees for Peel and Trees for Mapleton programs. The purpose of the survey is to develop recommendations to improve the program to meet community needs.
Contact Myles Henderson with any questions about trees or to put together a tree planting project. Call 519-621-2763 ext. 2259 or email mhenderson@grandriver.ca
