The cold season is a stressful matter for the plant world, which deciduous trees in particular prefer to survive in hibernation. But if it gets bitterly cold, a longer period of frost can also severely damage native trees that are used to our climate. The right winter protection for every tree is therefore a sensible investment. Read about what is particularly important.
How to protect trees from frost?
To protect trees from frost, you can leave autumn leaves, lime the tree trunk and wrap young trees in coconut mats, straw mats or tree fleece. Sensitive trees also need a protected location and an insulating layer of mulch.
How to protect hardy trees
Of course, native trees don't have to be wrapped in cotton wool to survive the winter. However, with a few tricks you can make things easier for the trees, which in turn will repay them with better he alth and problem-free budding in spring. The winter protection measures for frost-hardy trees include:
Leave autumn leaves lying around
Ordinary gardeners sweep away the autumn leaves, but the thick layer lying on the tree disc has an insulating effect and protects the roots from freezing. This method is particularly important for shallow-rooted plants. Alternatively, you can also apply a thick layer of mulch made of bark mulch, straw and brushwood.
lime tree trunk
The trunk and branches of fruit trees in particular are often whitened with lime paint. One reason for this is that intense sunlight in winter can no longer cause frost damage to the bark. The white color reflects the light and therefore makes it harmless.
Packing in coconut mats or tree fleece
Young trees in particular are at risk from strong temperature fluctuations: mild temperatures during the day and frost at night can cause severe damage. To prevent this, simply wrap the trees overnight in coconut or straw mats or in an insulating tree fleece. However, these protective measures should be removed during the day.
Wrap frost-sensitive trees properly
Some non-native species cannot always cope with freezing temperatures and therefore need effective protection. Suitable measures include
- a protected location
- Cover the tree disc with an insulating layer of mulch
- Cover the trunk and crown with fleece, coconut or reed mats or burlap
- If necessary, hang bundles of fagots in there
Do not use plastic films, as the evaporating moisture cannot escape underneath. This in turn promotes the settlement of fungi, which are particularly active in early spring. Breathable materials are therefore a must when it comes to frost protection.
Tip
Some tree species need a lot of water. This is especially true for evergreen deciduous trees, which you should water from time to time even in winter - but only if the ground is not frozen.
