What Is Tree Wrapping And How Is It Beneficial

Dry straw wrapped to keep the tree moist during dry weather in winter

As the winter season approaches, it is time to begin the process of winterizing your outdoor area. Are there young trees in your yard? Boulevard trees? Thin-barked trees? If your answer is yes, you might want to think about sheltering them with tree wrap.

What is tree wrapping?

Tree wrap is a temporary product used to shield the trunk of thin-barked, new, and young trees in the wintertime. There are many tree wrap types, such as paper, PVC (plastic), vinyl, and burlap is the most popular kinds.

Tree wraps deliver a barrier from the sun, salt, deer, rabbits, and insects.

Thin-barked trees and sapling trees, like maple, honey-locust, and crab apple, are particularly susceptible to sun scald in the cold. Sun scald is characterized by areas of dead bark on the trunk that look cracked or dried. They are usually seen on the south side of trees. Sunscald happens due to the variation of temps between the sun and fast declining winter temperatures.

Why tree wrap?

Trees that sit near your walkway or on a busy street can also benefit from being tree wrapped during the cold months to prevent salt damage and bark treatment. De-icing salt can cause foliage disfigurement, stem disfigurement, and a tree’s death.

Damage from rabbits and deer can be a thing of the past by using tree wrap. Animals on the prowl for food in the winter months typically have to eat bark or exposed plants. When an animal chews on the bark, it exposes the bare wood underneath. This leaves the tree susceptible to insects and disease.

One thing to know about tree wrapping is that you can’t leave it on all year long. Arborists recommend that you wrap your trees at Thanksgiving and take it off at Easter. If you leave it on, the fungus can be under the wrap. You want to use a cover that shields against animals and insects but allows your tree to breathe.

If you want to learn more about tree wrapping or how to protect your trees during the winter months, take some time to speak with a tree expert at a Rochester tree care company.​

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