Do your trees need a blanket?

Were you one of the many people who planted new trees during the pandemic? If you’ve got a young tree with thin bark, you should consider wrapping it for the winter.

Why wrap a tree?
Colorado’s big temperature swings can cause frost cracks or split bark. Our sunny winter days can cause sunscald on tree bark that is left exposed after leaves fall. Using a tree wrap can protect the vulnerable bark of young trees against the harsh Colorado climate. Trees like linden, maple, fruit trees and honey locust often have thin bark and may need protection.

Even if your tree has suffered damage from the season’s first frost, wrapping now could prevent further damage. Remove the tree wrap in April or early spring or when the threat of freeze has passed.

What to use for tree wrap?
You can find tree wrap, often made of paper, at garden centers. It is not recommended that you crochet or knit a tree wrap from yarn. Not only is it time-consuming and costly, but it could also harm the tree. Wrap the trunk up to the first branches.

For evergreens like arborvitae that might suffer damage or split, you might consider burlap wrap to protect them.

Consult a professional
The best way to ensure proper winter tree care is to consult with an arborist or landscape professional who can help you make the right tree care decisions based on experience and by assessing the current conditions.