Many of us worry about our trees in winter – between the cold air, wind and snow, our trees must be in trouble, right?
Not really – Trees go into a period of dormancy in the winter to protect fragile tissues. All trees have adaptations that actually allow them to survive quite well in the winter.
For example, the buds, with next year’s flowers and leaves, are tightly packed and covered with tough scales to protect them from drying wind and freezing temperatures. Also, roots function more slowly in winter but still grow and feed the tree as long as the ground is not frozen solid. This allows the tree to store more energy for new growth in the spring. You can even plant trees in the middle of winter (if your shovel can break through frozen soil and snow!).
While your trees might not need a lot of care in winter, there are some tips you can follow to make sure your trees and other wildlife are happy until spring.
Don’t shake off branches with snow. You don’t know what else might fall off!
Trees serve as wind protectors in winter
Bonus tip for you: Have you ever gotten pine sap on your hands? An easy and safe way to remove the sap is to pour a couple of drops of your favorite cooking oil on your hands and rub away. Then wash it off with regular dish soap. Viola!
This winter, there’s no need to worry about your trees. Focus on staying warm yourself!
Article by Laura Miller and Jessica Jones, Tree Montgomery