Mid-Winter Fruit Tree Protection

As the heart of winter comes upon us, many caretakers of fruit trees may soon be getting nervous about the wellbeing of their trees. With harsh winds, harsher weather events, and dramatic temperature shifts typically associated with winter, much of the preparation done in the fall to protect fruit trees can unfortunately be undone by a single moment’s misfortune. What’s more, if temperatures dip too low, the flowering, and therefore fruiting, buds of trees like peaches and nectarines can be killed off altogether. This makes now, though in the heart of the dormant season, the time to be double-checking the preparations made for the trees in the fall.

Likely completed last autumn, tree wraps, trunk protectors, and mulch rings are all factors that should be rechecked at this time of year to ensure they are still achieving their intended purpose. Tree wraps should be well-secured and not falling, and if they are not incorporated yet they can still be added even now. Doing so, you will be protected your trees from a condition known as “sunscald,” which is essentially a wound caused by daytime thawing and nighttime freezing and in bark –resulting in ruptured plant cells. Newly planted trees and smooth-barked trees are especially prone to this condition, so double-checking them first should be priority.

Looking to trunk protectors, these too can also be added now if they are not already. Trunk protectors do as they are monikered, with the specific intent of protecting tree trunks from wildlife. Rodents, rabbits, and deer may be prone to stripping bark off trees and girdling them at this time of year as they search for water and nutrients. Doing so, these wounds directly inhibit the sap flow of trees, as the area where water is absorbed appears just under the bark. Too much damage to bark will equate to depleted nutrient and water uptake and eventual plant death.

As for mulch, the early months of the year may be when you begin to see either compaction or erosion of tree rings. Properly in place, tree rings offer plants more-consistent soil temperatures and moisture, which can be vital in the winter as desiccating winter winds actively pull water from plants’ pores, drying them out. Reforming or adding to these mulch rings now, ensuring a 3”- 4” layer surrounding the fruit trees, will help the plants in overcoming this problem throughout the remainder of winter. Ultimately, this can also assist trees with weather becoming too cold, as the soil temperature regulation will assist the plants in being more resilient through cold periods. Watering trees while the ground is not frozen and temperatures are above freezing will also assist in this, as the moisture will lock in remnant heat.

Also to keep in mind, snow and ice may put ample stress on tree structure as their accumulative weight tests tree strength. Proactive pruning in late-February/early-March is the best method to mitigating this issue. As for what can be done now, the trees can be monitored during weather events, making special efforts to safely and manually remove weight from the plants if necessary.

While there is not much that can be done to directly address low temperatures killing fruit buds, the use of tree wraps, mulching, watering, and frost covers in conjunction with each other can be beneficial. However, as the remainder of the cooler months unfold, your trees can still have a fighting chance come spring.

Anthony Reardon, Horticulture Small Farms Agent, 2024