Wintertime for trees means rest. Which, let's all just admit it, it's a cue for us too. Trees will soon take a long winter's nap and snow will blanket the Chicagoland landscape. This is a time for us to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the season.
During this time, trees will have stopped producing chlorophyll (the stuff that makes leaves green). Trees' roots store nutrients and energy as they slowly prepare for spring.
You may be wondering, though, "Is there anything I should do to prepare my tree for winter?" The answer is yes. There are a few items that you should be sure to check off of your list before the ground begins to freeze.
Here's your checklist →
1. Wrap the trunk of your tree with DeWitt Tree Wrap
Just do it. Wrap the trunk of your tree to help prevent frost crack and sunscald. This is common among maple, linden, and crabapple trees... and other trees that love to drink up water the second the snow melts. Frost crack and sunscald can occur during the freeze/thaw cycle and wrapping your tree's trunk will help prevent your tree's trunk from cracking.
Watch our how-to video here.
2. Water your tree before winter
Give your tree a good drink of water before the ground begins to freeze. In Chicagoland, this is around the end of November/beginning of December. Simply place your hose at the base of your tree's trunk and put it on a very slow trickle for about 1 hour (the same watering routine you've been using all spring and summer long). Then, you can let up for the rest of the winter and hold off until spring.
3. Replenish your mulch
Mulching is best done in the springtime, however, it's a great idea to check your tree at the end of fall to see if it needs replenishing. The freeze and thaw cycle that happens during our cold Illinois winters can cause not only cracking to your tree's trunks but to the soil which can dry your tree's roots out. Mulch is like a warm snuggly blanket that protects the tree and its roots during its long winter's nap.
Helpful Tip →
Evergreen trees (the ones with the green needles) need a good watering before winter and a healthy replenishing of mulch too. You can skip the tree wrap on evergreens.
