Landscape Ontario
Sunday May 20, 2012    
Winter Protection
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Wrap and tie plant material with burlap
Support plants for snow and ice load
Erect screening for wind
Hill up soil and mulch delicate perennials


Trees and shrubs, especially young or newly planted, face a number of hazards during winter months that require attention to prevent injury or loss. Heavy snow and ice will bend and break branches, deer and rodents will eat parts of many shrubs and trees, wind can deplete moisture in the leaves of evergreens, and sun on a calm cold day can warm the plant enough that tissues may start to respire causing damage to the plant as moisture is lost and again when the sun is suddenly lost resulting in a quick freeze of the warm tissue.

Green Circles Method:
Different plants have different requirements such that a site visit and consultation will provide your property with the best solutions. Below is a chart outlining solutions to a number of common sources of damage and appropriate remedies. Green Circles will provide the required protection as needed.

Type of damage Remedy Timing
Wind desiccation Screening, wrapping Fall
Wind throw (blowing over) Staking, guying All season
Snow and ice load Wrapping or ties, cables for trees, pruning Fall (wrapping) all season (other)
Sunscald Wrapping or screening Late fall
Southwest injury and bleaching Wrapping or screening Late fall
Deer browsing Wrapping, foliar sprays, alternate food sources Fall / spring
Rodents Plastic or metal mesh guards, poison baits All year
Root damage from temperature changes Hilling with soil, mulching Fall
Flower / bulb loss due to foraging animals Plastic or metal mesh over surface of garden soil, alternate food sources Fall / spring