Protect plants from winter hazards

Iowa winters are hard on humans but can also present dangers for plants. Here are some tips to get bushes and trees through the season.

Keep critters at bay

Deer and rabbits can kill or severely disfigure trees and shrubs during the winter by eating bark, branches and needles. Rabbits make a distinctive 45 degree cut, making it easy to tell if they are eating bushes.

Physical barriers can help. Tree guards or wraps protect the bark of newly planted trees. Add guards in the fall and remove them in May yearly until the bark is thick and less desirable to animals.

Fencing to keep deer and rabbits away from evergreens is also effective. It can be around an individual tree or the whole garden, but deer may jump into a bigger space. Rabbits can fit through small holes, so pin the fence to the ground and use a smaller mesh. Deer netting or polypropylene netting over evergreens is also effective, as are taste and smell repellents. Most repellents need to be reapplied regularly, and there are good repellent recipes online for those who want to make their own.

When the weather is frightful

Winter weather can also damage plants. Frost cracks are a concern with maples, lindens and other varieties. Caused by warm days drawing sap up the trunk only to have it freeze and expand at night, these hairline cracks will expand as the tree grows in spring. Protect trees by covering the trunk with a tree guard or wrap up to the first set of branches.

Dry winter air, sun and wind draw moisture from tender branches and needles that can't be replaced by dry or frozen soil. New plantings and evergreens should be watered thoroughly before the ground freezes. For extra protection, treat plants with an anti-desiccant like Wilt-Pruf to reduce moisture loss.

Most trees and shrubs can tolerate and even need some snow cover for insulation against cold, but when ice or heavy wet snow causes branches to bend beyond their limit, they need help. Gently knock snow from the branches, lightening the load, but be careful not to break the branch you're trying to save. Sometimes ice can be knocked off if temperatures rise above freezing, but to save the plant you may have to prune away the weight if melting is not in the forecast.

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