Wrapping Trees for Winter

 There are lots of ways to protect your trees during the cold winter months. I do not like to use the above products or the other types of tubing with the vertical slits. Those products can have sharp edges and easily cut the thin bark when you are putting them on and removing. But why bother?

• young trees have tender bark and are pretty tasty to rabbits during the winter.
• young trees that have 50% of their bark chewed around the circumference, have a little chance of surviving to adulthood.
• thinned skinned trees like locust, maples and fruit trees should be wrapped until they are several years old - when bark appears thicker

 The above wire method offers no winter protection. This would help with preventing mower/weed whip damage, and rodents chewing in a non-snow situation.

 Above is the product I use. It's easy to put on, about 2 minutes and 25 cents per tree. I also tape the paper at both ends with duct tape, keeping the tape on the paper and not the tree! I paper the tree all the way up to where the branches start. Think about possible snow levels....where the rabbits can sit. 

 I do not recommend the above or below method, and you can likely see why. Wind can damage this set-up and accumulating snow can lay on top of the fabric and crush and deform the plant you are trying to protect. The best advice on having success with shrub evergreens (usually what people cover like this) is this: Choose the correct spot to begin with. Consider the winter location. not just the summer. A plant next to a white reflective house will warm up the plant during the winter when the sun is shining. This is not good! During warmer sunny winter days, the sun warms the plants, and fluids start to move up and down the plant. When the sun goes down and temps quickly drop, fluids freeze, expand, and pop! Ever notice when a tree has a split or crack it is on the SW side?

 Keeping evergreens hydrated going into winter is critical....watered lately? Still a good idea.  Always consider the prevailing winter winds and keep evergreen shrubs out of those locations. Evergreens transpire (breathe) all winter and the constant winds dry them out, often leading to the brown leaves you see.

The above method may work IF you have no wind or are in a very protected spot. I would guess those little shelters would be in the next county if I tried them.

When can you wrap? Now! November is a good time, after insects have already found their winter spot. Wrap to early, and insects can hide and feed under the paper. Likewise, remove in early spring.
I forgot to unwrap a few until mid-summer, and there had been some chewing going on! You can get the wrap at garden centers.