Proper winter landscape care begins in the summer. Proper cultural practices in spring and summer are a prerequisite. Watering can be decreased in early fall and increased in late fall to provide water needed to withstand the drying winds of winter. Plants need to go dormant; don’t encourage late growth by heavy watering and nitrogen fertilization in early fall. Plants should be thoroughly watered in late fall just prior to the soil freezing.

Sunscald, characterized by sunken, dried, or cracked bark, is caused by the heating effect of the winter sun in cold weather. It usually occurs on the south or southwest side of the tree. In the fall, wrap young and thin –barked trees with tree wrap from the bottom up to the first major branch. Remove the wrap in spring. Thin-barked species, such as a maple, may require protection for several years, in full sun locations.

Winter browning of evergreens is normally caused by the combined effects of wind and sun. Trees lose water from the leaves (needle) while roots are in frozen soil. To protect evergreens, place a screen of burlap of similar materials on the south, west and windward side of the tree to block wind and sun. Anti-desiccant sprays are not very effective in offsetting the drying effects. Watering evergreens well throughout the growing season, lightly in September, then thoroughly again before the soil freezes. Select species and cultivars that tolerate winter conditions. Choose species that are susceptible to winter injury in areas of minimal exposure to winter wind and sun.

Animal damage can be severe during the winter. To protect individual trees from mice, place a cylinder of one-quarter inch mesh hardware cloth or plastic drain pipe (it should not be black in color) around the trunk. The cylinder should extend high enough to prevent animals from feeding at snow level and should be firmly anchored in the soil without disturbing the tree roots. Protection from rabbits requires coverage of up to 1 to 2 feet above level. Other means of fencing or animal control may be needed. If many trees and shrubs are to be protected, application of a repellent may be more practical. The repellent can be sprayed or painted on the trunks and branches. The effectiveness and duration of the repellent will depend on severity of the winter and the availability of other food. Fencing areas with heavy deer population may be necessary between Thanksgiving and Easter. Five to ten foot heights may be advisable depending upon the location. Install the fence tightly to the ground because deer will go under before they go over.