November 6, 2006

The last few weeks I have been busy preparing plants for the winter. I just want to touch base on preparing young trees for the winter this week, and then we will be done with fall yard work.

Newly planted trees and some trees under six inches in diameter need to be protected in winter with tree wrap. Tree wrap is a paper material used to wrap tender barked trees. The purpose is to prevent rabbit damage and frost cracking. Frost cracking occurs when a tree with thin bark, which can include maples, ash, lindens, lilacs, and crabapples, is heated up by the sun during the day and at night it freezes. This continual freezing and thawing can cause frost cracks that do not become evident until later in spring, where a crack can develop. The cracks generally heal over, but it is best to wrap when it is young. It has been a chillier fall than normal, and we all have felt the rush to get our fall gardening done early.

While there may still be a warm up in sight, I think now is a great time to decorate your outdoor pots with evergreens and other decor available at Sargent’s on 2nd. When your containers are decorated for the winter, head inside and dream of ideas for your garden next year.

Wendy Jasper
Horticultural Advisor