How to close a Christmas tree for the winter. The winter is coming. We warm conifers in our area. Winter is a difficult time of the year for any plant.

02.05.2020

Lovers of coniferous plantations living in central Russia dream of an evergreen decoration of a house adjoining plot. Despite the frost resistance of conifers, young seedlings need protection on winter period. How we cover the conifers for the winter, and other ways to protect against ice and snow, we will consider in this article.

Why cover winter-hardy crops?

Almost all coniferous plantations from trees to low-growing shrubs are characterized by unpretentiousness and resistance to frost. Both thuja and spruce attract the attention of gardeners not only with their beautiful appearance, but also resistant to diseases, pests, and also exude a wonderful coniferous aroma. In addition, they are excellent antiseptics.

Out of love for decorative look plants, it is planted along the alleys, near administrative buildings as well as in parks and gardens. But, despite these positive characteristics, coniferous plants need shelter for the winter. Namely, young seedlings that are not yet 3-4 years old are considered weak and need protection. Here are two aspects that adversely affect evergreen crops:

hard frost wind;
spring sun rays reflecting off the snow.

Why wind and sunlight? The fact is that the winter wind causes severe dryness of the branches, and from a lack of moisture they freeze, break off and die. If you watched a beautiful spruce with a withered shoot and yellowed needles, then you should know that this happened due to the cold and strong wind. If the needles of trees are able to withstand severe frost, then she does not like the wind.

Everyone knows that the thaw at the end of February and March is characterized by a bright sun, the rays of which are reflected on the white snow. At this time, sap flow has not yet begun, and shrubs are still weak and vulnerable. Then pine needles and green thuja legs under bright light can get sunburn. Therefore, there is a need to shelter the culture for the winter, not to mention the break of branches under the weight of adhering snow.

Protection for medium height shrubs

To shelter for the winter coniferous bushes not yet reached the age of 3, first we bend the branches to the trunk of the tree. To do this, we take a twine, preferably green or the same color as the trunk, and, without pressing hard, lightly wrap the cord so that the paws of the stems do not stick out. After that we take nonwoven fabric or spunbond, and determine the size of the future bag. Then we fix the seam with a stapler.

To date, manufacturers offer ready-made bags of agrotex in various sizes. Spruce and pine need autumn shelter only in the first year of life.

How to cover shrubs and young trees medium height so as not to damage the crown and preserve the integrity of the culture as much as possible? For this, a wooden frame is constructed from bars of medium thickness.

Advice! “You can make a frame from an elastic plastic mesh which is very convenient due to its flexibility.

It is better not to install an iron or wire frame, as the metal conducts cold and can cause frostbite of branches.

After preparing the walls of the frame, we wrap it with a covering material. It is better not to use polyethylene for these purposes, as it collects moisture. The moisture accumulated under the film in the winter cold freezes and does not contribute to thermal insulation or leads to decay and mold. In addition, polyethylene may not withstand low temperatures and burst, allowing the penetration of snow and cold wind. To protect coniferous plantations for the winter, it is better to use:

burlap;
spunbond;
kraft paper;
agrofibre;
lutrasin;
agrospan.

Any of the listed materials, except kraft paper, can be stapled to wooden frame. You can wind the insulation around the mesh, connecting the ends into a single seam.

Any agrofibre should be of medium thickness for air to enter (sometimes they leave a small gap or do not fix the top), but not tear from strong gusts of wind. After winter, shelters should be removed in early April or late March, when it gets warmer and sap flow begins. When to open the insulation you will be prompted by moderate melting of snow and air temperature close to 0 ° C.

If your pets have reached the age of 4, and you did not cover them, but only pulled them with twine, then we do the following frauds. At the end of February, on the south side of the garden, we install an awning from any available covering material. Our goal is to create a shadow curtain so that the conifers do not get sunburn from the blinding sun.

Protection for undersized shrubs

If your juniper or cedar is too young, or you are a fan of undersized crops, then the amount of insulation work is significantly reduced. It is enough to stock up on spruce branches in the forest and cover them with seedlings in the form of cone-shaped houses. Zealous owners prefer to install plastic containers on top of the spruce branches for reliable fixation and maintaining the temperature regime.

The industrial business satisfies any demand, and therefore the Moscow region is provided with covering material for planting in in full. It is sold in the form of cone-shaped bags with a pulling rope at the bottom. So that the ends of the coniferous paws do not turn yellow, it is enough to use special bags.

Agronomist advice! “For young conifers with a weak root system, it is necessary to sprinkle the place at the roots with sawdust or mulch before sheltering for the winter.”

Extra Care

Despite the winter hardiness and unpretentiousness of the culture, mineral dressing will not hurt. Especially for freshly planted crops in the fall, so that they can take root until spring. The plant must be strong and disease resistant. How to feed pets in anticipation of cold weather?

We will describe several steps leading to successful acclimatization and overwintering:

we water in autumn 50-60 cm deep, not only near the root, but also in the radius of the root system. With heavy autumn rains, the procedure is canceled;
near-stem mulching with organic matter (needles, pine bark, sawdust, spruce branches, hay, etc.) is poured in 1–2 layers, not thicker, so that rodents do not make a nest;
feeding with biohumus and compost will support the vitality of conifers, as well as the introduction of magnesium with dolomite flour;
nitrogen in in large numbers and manure can harm plantings;
in the spring at a temperature of +10 ° C, it is recommended to carry out treatment with biostimulants: epin, HB 101, Zircon. Sometimes it is enough to spray the crown warm water and hide from the sun.

It is much more expedient to take care of the conifers than to restore them as a result of a careless attitude.

Decorative coniferous trees look great in parks, gardens, adjoining plots, as well as near administrative buildings. These ever-green spaces not only exude a delicate coniferous aroma, but are natural antiseptics. It is useful for sick people with respiratory diseases to walk in coniferous forest. But, despite their unpretentiousness, young coniferous plants need protection from harmful influence environment during the winter cold.

Young plantations that are not yet 3 years old become especially vulnerable to cold weather. Their main enemies are:

cold frosty wind;
winter thaws accompanied by snowfalls;
sun rays reflecting off the snow.

A strong winter wind dries up the branches, which, when frozen, become brittle and brittle. If possible, it is recommended to plant conifers along buildings that will serve as a screen for plantings from the cold wind.

Attention!

Pine and spruce need shelter only in the first year of planting.

Winter thaws lead to the accumulation of a large amount of snow on the branches and the formation of ice. The branches, weakened by the cold winter wind, often break under the weight of the ice.

A severe burn of the needles of young trees can occur at the end of winter, when a bright sun appears, the rays of which, reflected from the snow, damage coniferous plantations.

Shelter from snow and ice

To protect a yew, cypress or thuja planted with love, it is necessary to cover coniferous trees before the winter cold, especially at a young age. They are wrapped with non-woven materials and fixed with a stapler or put on them with special caps that are commercially available and attached to rods stuck in the ground.

Sun protection

In order to protect a young tree uncovered for the winter from spring rays, it is required to install sun protection on the south side before heavy snowmelt. An awning is made from any improvised material:

old sheets sewn together;
old curtains;
covering material.

If there is no desire to put up an awning, you can cover coniferous trees from above with a cloth and secure.

Caring for conifers before shelter

Before proceeding with the shelter of conifers for the winter, it is necessary to carry out a number of additional measures that will help preserve young plantations. Produced in autumn:

watering to a depth of 50-60 cm within the radius of the root system (in case of heavy rains, the procedure is canceled);
the introduction of biohumus, compost, dolomite flour will give the plants strength to overwinter;
mulching with needles, spruce branches, sawdust, peat (hay is not recommended due to the possibility of the appearance of rodents) helps to preserve the root system;

Attention!

It is contraindicated in the fall to use manure and nitrogen fertilizers, which will lead the plantations to death in the winter.

Shelter of conifers for the winter

To cover a coniferous tree for the winter, you must first tie it loosely to the trunk of a branch with twine, preferably natural. Then wrap it around:

burlap;
spunbond;
agrofibre;
lutrasil;
kraft paper.

The edges are fixed with a stapler.

Coniferous shelter on the trunk

Plants on trunk require special protection before the onset of cold weather. First thing:

Protect the grafting site from frost and wind. Wrap this place with a covering material and fix it well.
They protect the crown, so it cannot hold a heavy mass of snow and breaks off at the grafting site.

Crown protection can be done in several ways:

iron bars are dug in around the perimeter, they are wound around metal mesh with small cells, put on top a bag of burlap or other covering material;
from wooden slats a frame is knocked together, on which the covering material is stretched in several layers and attached with a stapler;
for especially delicate conifers (fir on the stem "Icebreaker"), wooden boxes with lids are knocked together;
completely wrap the entire tree to the ground with covering material.

By spending a certain amount of time on these activities, you can protect your pets from the vagaries of the weather.

Conifer shelter

November and early December are suitable for sheltering conifers for the winter.

Winter protection of shrubs of medium height

In the Moscow region, the shelter of conifers for the winter is somewhat different due to their size. To protect medium-sized plants from the wind and sun, most often they make a wooden frame, which is wrapped with covering material and fixed with staples using a stapler.

Attention!

In order for the plant to breathe, it is necessary to leave a small gap in the covering material, which will not be torn apart by gusts of wind.

Winter protection for undersized shrubs

For creeping species of juniper and other young conifers, building a shelter for the winter is not difficult. One has only to stock up on spruce branches and cover young plantings in the form of a cone.

Shelter of pine and spruce

Pine and Christmas tree need shelter only in the first year of planting. In order to insulate a young tree, it is necessary to do the following manipulations:

strengthen the conifer by attaching it to a support;
mulch the ground around the trunk and cover with spruce branches;
cover crowns and branches with covering material.

If the tree does not get stronger in the second year of life, shelter should not be neglected.

larch shelter

Larch is not afraid of the cold, and the need for shelter disappears 2.3 years after planting. In places with heavy snowfalls, a tripod is installed above the plant. Wrapped up on top suitable material: lutrasil, burlap, old sheets, etc.

Attention!

Plastic bags are not suitable as covering material! Moisture collects inside them, which leads to mold and plant death.

juniper shelter

This type of conifers is suitable for planting in summer cottages by novice gardeners. The first 3-4 years juniper for the winter must be protected from burns, it also needs warming. Juniper branches are very sensitive to sunlight. First thing:

Tie branches to the trunk with twine.
Wrap the plant with a covering material or garden bandage.
Several metal pins are stuck around the tree, on which a metal mesh is put on.

cypress shelter

Sheltering conifers for the winter is a very responsible plant protection process, so we recommend that you study the video and other information provided in this article. Already in the fall, when the days are either sunny or rainy, you need to do it. The conifers during this period are not yet strong enough, which means that they can suffer greatly from strong winds or the first frosts. It is the first wintering that is quite dangerous for these plants. There are several ways to hide.

So, if your coniferous tree grows in a tub, then you should definitely bring it into a house or room where a constant temperature is maintained. However, the size of the plants can change your plans - if the trees simply do not enter the door, you will have to think about sheltering coniferous beauties right on the street.

As an effective and inexpensive covering material, you can use spruce branches, which are laid in the form of a hut, covering the plant from top to bottom.. By the way, this affordable heat-insulating material can be used to protect other plants from winter frosts.

What to do if you can’t get the spruce branches? Then you can make a covering material in the form of homemade pillows stuffed with sawdust, straw or various rags. If the frosts in your area are very strong, we advise you to use everything in the complex to protect plants - both spruce branches and bags. All your multi-layered protection should be well reinforced so that nothing blows apart in strong winds. To do this, spruce branches are fixed with staples or simply sprinkled with earth below, and the pillows are tied with twine.

If one-year-old seedlings by autumn have already been planted in open ground, then here it is necessary to approach the shelter of plants for the winter in a somewhat different way. First, the root system should be insulated. To do this, you can pour a large layer of sawdust or peat over the soil in the region of the near-stem circle. Also for these purposes, the spruce spruce branches indicated by us above, laid directly on the ground, or simply coniferous needles, are also suitable.

Branches should be tied with twine so that they are pressed against the trunk. Firstly, then it will be much easier to wrap the plant heat-insulating material, and secondly, it will protect the branches from wind and heavy snow.

Closer to spring, try to close your conifers from sunburn. In spring, the soil has not completely frozen, the circulation of juice has not been restored - in these conditions, direct sunlight dries the needles.

Signs of burns - brown or yellow. So that the trees do not suffer, you should gradually open them to sunlight, increasing the duration every day. However, you can’t keep them closed either - needles can forbid.

In the end, it would not be superfluous to add that in some regions, adult conifers may not be covered - for example, in central Russia, spruce trees that are 4 years old or more, adult larches and junipers may not be protected from frost. Winter-hardy in adulthood can also be pines, yews, cedars, arborvitae and fir. But young seedlings of these plants must be covered.

Coniferous plants planted this year do not have time to develop powerful rhizomes during the season and get stronger to survive in harsh winter conditions. Young plantings need protection created different ways using factory or homemade designs.

The optimal time for sheltering plants is dry weather, established with the arrival of stable cold weather. Protective materials are recommended to be placed on frames that ensure the integrity of the branches and the optimal ventilation mode.

We get ready-made shelters.

Purchased designs are ready-made kits that are easy to install and do not require additional devices. Among the many options, you can always choose shelters that are suitable in shape and size.

The frames of these products are made of polymer or metal tubes, bamboo rods or fine mesh. As a protective material, non-woven fabrics are used that allow air to pass through and maintain a dry atmosphere inside the shelter, for example, Snapbond or Agrospan.

We cover homemade frame purchased material.
Another way to organize a winter shelter is to separately purchase the right amount of nonwoven material, which saves about half the cost. In this case, the base for fixing the canvas is built with their own hands from thick wire. Homemade arcs are installed crosswise over the plant.

The synthetic fabric is stretched over the frame and pinned with wire pins.

We use wooden supports and burlap

To make a simple frame, you will need four pegs twice the height of the sheltered coniferous plant. The ends of the wooden slats are knocked down with a carnation and the racks resembling compasses are put in place. It is better to stick stakes into the ground in advance, without waiting for it to freeze.

With the onset of persistent night frosts wooden base cover with burlap, fixing the fabric with pins or stones bent from wire.

We collect spruce branches

Spruce branches serve as an excellent winter shelter, additionally saving plants from rodents. The air layer created under the thorny branches is well ventilated and is less subject to temperature changes. Lapnik is harvested exclusively from healthy trees; infected needles cannot be used and diseases can not be transferred to young seedlings.

Long spruce or pine paws are great for shelter - they are folded over the plant in the form of a hut, tied on top with twine. But the short shoots remaining after the formative pruning of adult trees also come into play. First, wire arcs are installed on top of the bush. Then the frame is covered with cut branches.

The result is an ideal shelter that saves a coniferous plant from an ice crust in winter.

Another advantage of spruce branches is that it does not rot and does not contribute to the reproduction of harmful microorganisms.

We protect the root system.
The near-stem circles of coniferous seedlings are mulched with some kind of organic matter, pouring the material in a loose layer at least 5 cm thick. A mixture of earth and leaves is well suited to cover the roots. Left in the spring under a bush, it rots and serves as an additional top dressing.

Coniferous plants remaining in containers are dug into the ground for the winter or arrange a blanket of sawdust around them.

The ground part of the seedlings is protected by any of the available methods.

Each of the considered structures begins to be aired when the spring rays of the sun melt the snow around it. First, the north side is slightly opened, and after the soil has thawed, the protective material is completely removed.
Winter shelter of young coniferous plants is one of the means that increase the winter hardiness of plantings. Do not take it as the only method that guarantees a successful wintering. Experienced gardener always thoughtfully treats the preparation of plants, paying attention to planting, watering and top dressing.

Lovers of coniferous plantations living in central Russia dream of an evergreen decoration of the adjacent plot. Despite the frost resistance of conifers, young seedlings need protection for the winter. How we cover the conifers for the winter, and other ways to protect against ice and snow, we will consider in this article.

Why cover winter-hardy crops?

Almost all coniferous plantations from trees to low-growing shrubs are characterized by unpretentiousness and resistance to frost. Both thuja and spruce attract the attention of gardeners not only with their beautiful appearance, but also with their resistance to diseases, pests, and also exude a wonderful coniferous aroma. In addition, they are excellent antiseptics.

Out of love for the decorative look of the plant, it is planted along the alleys, near administrative buildings, as well as in parks and gardens. But, despite such positive characteristics, coniferous plants need shelter for the winter. Namely, young seedlings that are not yet 3-4 years old are considered weak and need protection. Here are two aspects that adversely affect evergreen crops:

strong frosty wind;
spring sun rays reflecting off the snow.

Why wind and sunlight? The fact is that the winter wind causes severe dryness of the branches, and from a lack of moisture they freeze, break off and die. If you watched a beautiful spruce with a withered shoot and yellowed needles, then you should know that this happened due to a cold and strong wind. If the needles of trees are able to withstand severe frost, then she does not like the wind.

Everyone knows that the thaw at the end of February and March is characterized by a bright sun, the rays of which are reflected on the white snow. At this time, sap flow has not yet begun, and shrubs are still weak and vulnerable. Then pine needles and green thuja legs under bright light can get sunburned. Therefore, there is a need to shelter the culture for the winter, not to mention the break of branches under the weight of adhering snow.

Protection for medium height shrubs

To cover for the winter coniferous bushes that have not yet reached the age of 3, we first bend the branches to the trunk of the tree. To do this, we take a twine, preferably green or the same color as the trunk, and, without pressing hard, lightly wrap the cord so that the paws of the stems do not stick out. After that, we take a non-woven material or spunbond, and determine the size of the future bag. Then we fix the seam with a stapler.

To date, manufacturers offer ready-made bags of agrotex in various sizes. Spruce and pine need autumn shelter only in the first year of life.

How to cover shrubs and young trees of medium height so as not to damage the crown and preserve the integrity of the culture as much as possible? For this, a wooden frame is constructed from bars of medium thickness.

Advice! “You can make a frame out of a flexible plastic mesh, which is very convenient because of its flexibility.”

It is better not to install an iron or wire frame, as the metal conducts cold and can cause frostbite of branches.

burlap;
spunbond;
kraft paper;
agrofibre;
lutrasin;
agrospan.

Any of the listed materials, except for kraft paper, can be stapled to a wooden frame. You can wind the insulation around the mesh, connecting the ends into a single seam.

Protection for undersized shrubs

The industrial business satisfies any demand, and therefore the Moscow region is provided with covering material for planting in full. It is sold in the form of cone-shaped bags with a pulling rope at the bottom. So that the ends of the coniferous paws do not turn yellow, it is enough to use special bags.

Agronomist advice! “For young conifers with a weak root system, it is necessary to sprinkle the place at the roots with sawdust or mulch before sheltering for the winter.”

Extra Care

We will describe several steps leading to successful acclimatization and overwintering:

we water in autumn 50-60 cm deep, not only near the root, but also in the radius of the root system. With heavy autumn rains, the procedure is canceled;
near-stem mulching with organic matter (needles, pine bark, sawdust, spruce branches, hay, etc.) is poured in 1–2 layers, not thicker, so that rodents do not make a nest;
feeding with biohumus and compost will support the vitality of conifers, as well as the introduction of magnesium with dolomite flour;
nitrogen in large quantities and manure can harm plantings;
in the spring at a temperature of +10 ° C, it is recommended to carry out treatment with biostimulants: epin, HB 101, Zircon. Sometimes it is enough to spray the crown with warm water and hide from the sun.

It is much more expedient to take care of the conifers than to restore them as a result of a careless attitude.