Winterizing Trees & Shrubs

Winterizing newly planted trees and shrubs is one of the most critical steps you can take to safeguard your landscape investment. When young nursery stock goes into the ground in autumn, its root systems are still becoming established.Winter cold, frost heaving, wind desiccation, and hungry wildlife present unique challenges to young plants.

Here is how to get your new plantings tucked in safely for the cold season, along with specific tips for some popular species from the Old House Trees collection.

Step 1: Deep Watering Before the Ground Freezes

Don’t put away the hose just because the leaves have fallen! Dry plants are significantly more susceptible to winter burn and cold damage. Water deeply late in the fall right up until the soil freezes hard. Moist soil retains heat better than dry soil, protecting vulnerable tender root systems.

Step 2: Apply a Protective Layer of Mulch

Mulching acts as an insulating blanket for the root zone. It prevents the soil from rapidly freezing and thawing—a process known as frost heaving, which can push bare roots right up out of the dirt.

• How to do it: Apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch (shredded bark or wood chips) out to the drip line.

• The Donut Rule: Always keep mulch 2 to 3 inches away from the trunk or main stem. “Mulch volcanoes” piled against the trunk trap moisture, invite wood rot, and give rodents a cozy hiding spot to chew on tender bark.

Step 3: Prevent Sunscald with Trunk Wraps

Young, thin-barked trees are vulnerable to sunscald on sunny winter days. Direct sunlight warms the trunk’s bark, causing dormant cells to reactivate. When temperatures plunge rapidly after sunset, those active cells freeze and rupture, resulting in cracked bark.

• How to do it: Wrap young tree trunks from the ground up to the first main branches using commercial paper tree wrap or plastic trunk guards. Remove the wrap in early spring once frost risks pass.

Step 4: Guard Against Hungry Winter Wildlife

When preferred food sources disappear in winter, deer, rabbits, and voles often target the tender stems and bark of young plants.

• Install hardware cloth or wire mesh guards around the base of young shrubs and tree trunks to block rodents.

• For taller deer browsing, stake wire fencing cages around vulnerable foliage.

Winterizing Specific Old House Trees Favorites

Different species have different winter care needs. Here is how to handle a few standout plants from our farm:

1. Broadleaf Evergreens (Sweetbay Magnolia)

• The Risk: Evergreens continue to lose moisture through their foliage all winter. Cold winds and bright sun pull moisture out of the leaves while frozen ground prevents the roots from taking up fresh water, leading to winter burn.

• Winter Care: Give your Sweetbay Magnolia a deep soaking before the first hard freeze. Place a temporary burlap windbreak on the windward side of the plant to buffer harsh winter gusts while allowing air circulation.

2. Native Deciduous Shrubs (Mapleleaf Viburnum & Arrowwood Viburnum)

• The Risk: While these native powerhouses are exceptionally hardy in cold winter climates, their young stems remain a favorite winter snack for rabbits.

• Winter Care: Ensure mulch is properly pulled back from the stems. Surround the base of your Mapleleaf Viburnum or Arrowwood Viburnum with a small ring of 1/4-inch hardware cloth extending at least 18 inches high (or above expected snow lines).

3. Tender/Ornamental Favorites (Crape Myrtle & Rose of Sharon)

• The Risk: Young cultivars like Purple Crape Myrtle or Jeanne D’Arc Rose of Sharon can experience branch dieback in severe cold snaps, particularly during their first year.

• Winter Care: Resist the urge to prune late in the season! Cutting back branches in fall encourages tender growth that is easily killed by frost. Leave all stems intact until spring. Mulch the root zone heavily (3–4 inches) to protect the root crown, and trim away any dead tips only after new growth begins in spring.

4. Young Conifers (Colorado Blue Spruce)

• The Risk: Heavy, wet snow accumulation can weigh down and split young branches.

• Winter Care: Wrap young branches loosely with garden twine or burlap strips to prevent snow loading. If heavy snow accumulates on the branches, gently brush it upward with a broom—never shake or beat frozen branches, as they snap easily.

Quick Winterization Checklist