Trees are strong and able to withstand many weather conditions, however, just like with many other things in life they require a bit more care and protection while they’re young. The winter season may be tough on your new trees, but there are steps you can take to minimize harm.

• Give your young tree lots of water before the ground freezes. This gives the tree a good amount of water to absorb until the ground thaws out. Young roots aren’t established enough to withstand lack of water.

• Apply a layer of mulch around the tree. Mulch will act as an insulator to prevent the tree from freezing. Mulch is also full of nutrients that will help the tree grow. Mulch will also help keep moisture in. When applying mulch, don’t let it touch the trunk of the tree.

• Prune off any damaged or diseased branches. You never want to prune a young tree too hard, but these weak branches should be removed. The tree puts energy towards growing each branch, so it’s a waste of energy and nutrients to have damaged branches on the tree.

• Wrap the tree. Some tree varieties can be wrapped in burlap or landscape fabric for the winter as well. This will protect the tree from frost and act as insulation as well.

Following these tips will help maximize your newly planted trees ability to stay healthy over the cold winter months.