How to cover apple trees for the winter
Miscellaneous / / October 30, 2023
Trees need to be protected not only from frost, but also from rodents.
Why cover apple trees for the winter?
Young trees up to 7 years old primarily need protection from cold weather. The thin trunks of such apple trees have not yet acquired hard and strong bark, which makes them vulnerable to frost and icy winds. It is also worth mulching the tree trunk to protect the root system. Shelter will also come in handy in early spring, when bright sun and temperature changes can cause wood to crack.
Apple trees are also covered to protect them from rodents. Hares and mice not averse to grinding wood in search of food in winter. Moreover, both young and mature trees suffer from the invasion of uninvited guests. By the way, in the southern regions you don’t have to insulate apple trees for the winter, but you definitely should protect them from animals.
When to cover apple trees for the winter
Do not rush to wrap the plants in the fall, otherwise, due to the heat, they will continue to grow, will not go into a dormant state and may not survive the winter well. Wait for stable cold weather to arrive with temperatures around −10 °C.
1-2 weeks before the onset of frost, you can mulch the soil around young apple trees to protect their roots from the cold.
And you can protect trees from rodents at any time, regardless of the weather.
How to shelter young apple trees for the winter from cold weather and rodents
First, mulch the tree trunk circle with peat, wood chips, sawdust or straw. Spread any of the materials in a layer of 20–30 cm in a radius of about 50 cm around the trunk.
When stable frosts arrive, protect the trunks of apple trees from the cold and rodents. Use light-colored materials: these reflect sunlight well, so the bark will not heat up and crack. Agrofibre or spunbond is suitable as a cover.
If you planted the tree not this year, fold the material in four layers and wrap the trunk tightly several times from the ground to the branch.
Secure the material with rope or twine.
Apple trees, planted this season, need more serious protection. The fastest option is to also wrap them with agrofibre or spunbond, but from bottom to top, that is, wrap both the trunk and branches. After this, the material must be secured with rope.
Or you can build a kind of “wigwam” of spruce legs around low seedlings. Then wrap the structure with mesh or spunbond and secure with rope.
How to protect any apple trees from rodents for the winter
These shelter options are suitable for mature trees or for young apple trees growing in warm climates.
A plastic or metal fine-mesh mesh in light shades is suitable for sheltering from mice and hares. The first one can tightly wrap the trunk in 2-3 layers without fear. The second thing is to wrap the apple tree with a small gap, otherwise the frozen metal can damage the bark. The height of the protection should be about 50–60 cm from the ground surface. Secure the mesh with rope or cable ties.
You can also use a regular plastic bottle of suitable diameter to protect against mice. Using a sharp knife, separate the bottom and neck of the container and cut it on the side. Wrap the resulting blank around the base of the trunk and secure it with rope or tape.
Unlike other materials, you don’t have to remove the plastic bottle cover in spring. It will serve as an excellent protection for the apple tree bark from accidental damage during mowing. lawn.
Closing the summer season🍁🍂🥀
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