How to cover a Christmas tree for the winter. Do evergreen conifers need a winter coat. Coniferous shelter on the trunk

Autumn is the time when in the dachas and household plots you need to think about the coming winter and how to keep the plants from freezing. Have on site coniferous plants- it is prestigious, luxurious and beautiful. They grow for a long time and I really don’t want the only winter to spoil the appearance of the beauties. This is especially true for young seedlings-conifers.

If the conifer grows in a container and is not too voluminous in size, then the most fast way protection from frost - bring it into the room. However, this is not always possible. Therefore, the ephedra in the container is covered for the winter with spruce branches. The branches are laid around the container using the "hut" method. If possible, place bags stuffed with straw or sawdust under them. Since in winter the winds can be strong and even stormy, it is better to sprinkle spruce branches with additional earth.

When, then winter shelter measures are slightly different from the previous version. First, the trunk circle of the conifer is insulated with a layer of sawdust, straw, peat or coniferous needles. Next, wrap the barrel with spunbond non-woven material that is resistant to weather changes or burlap. Tie it down so the wind doesn't blow it away. Polyethylene films for sheltering coniferous plants for the winter are not suitable, they enter the tree into a state of blockage. It is advisable to install screens (screens) to protect against wind and spring sun.

If the coniferous plant is sprawling, then in winter the branches can break from snowfall, therefore, to shelter for the winter, the branches are tied and another equally important device is built - a canopy or screen from the wind. If for some reason it was not possible to make a canopy, then after each heavy snowfall, try to appear on the site to shake off the snow from the branches. If, after a snowy winter, the branches are still broken, then the small ones are removed, and the large ones are pulled together. Cedar, pine and cypress are especially affected by this.
Tall conifers (juniper or thuja) are quite difficult to cover for the winter, but it is quite possible to tie the branches.

Adult cedars, yew, fir, spruce and pine, whose age exceeds 4-5 years, it is not necessary to cover for the winter, only young seedlings.

In the spring, when the sun begins to appear, coniferous plants often receive sunburn. You can determine this by yellowing needles. This is a very serious damage, so it is better not to remove any shelters until the end of April, in particular, this applies to awnings, screens and windings. It is better to do this in cloudy weather. A in autumn, before frosts, you need to water and mulch abundantly so that the conifers most painlessly endured the temperature difference.

After winter, if the coniferous plant has lost its color, then shade it and lightly spray the branches with warm water, and when the air temperature is stable + 10 ° C outside, treat it with the biostimulator "" or "Zircon".

Each of us wants to decorate our country cottage area, somehow distinguish it from the rest, and one of the most popular ways is planting coniferous trees.

This is due to their beauty, durability and relative unpretentiousness.

If the tree takes root, then, in most cases, it will please for several decades.

The most dangerous period after planting is the first winter.

This happens due to the fact that it is necessary to plant conifers in the fall, after the end of the growth season, and an immature tree can completely “freeze out” during severe cold weather.

Therefore, the question of whether it is necessary to cover conifers for the winter should not sound.

Naturally, you can do the old proven method: chop spruce branches, wide spruce branches in the nearest forest and overlay your plantings with them.

This method is good for its versatility and this is also its disadvantage, because it does not take into account the individual requirements of each tree.

And, therefore, in order to achieve the most favorable effect, it is necessary to consider each breed separately.

The article will consider ways to "warm" such popular trees as:

• pine;
• larch.
• juniper;
• cypress;
• fir.

We cover conifers for the winter

How to cover a spruce for the winter

When we talk about this tree species, we usually mean European or Norway spruce.

It is more unpretentious than most other conifers for the winter cold.

The danger lies in two things:

• wind and sleet that can break a tree;
• spring burns, which can lead to the death of branches.

To prevent this, it is necessary, firstly, to strengthen the tree by tying it to a peg driven into the ground or by setting up a tripod.

Secondly, to close from the spring sun. For these purposes, both the covering material and the spruce branches indicated above are perfect.

Repeat this procedure better first two or three years. After that, the tree will finally get stronger and will feel great in winter time of the year.

How to cover a pine for the winter

Pine is the second most popular tree in the middle forest belt.

This is due to both good survival and attractive appearance tree.

It would seem that the pine belongs to the same family as the Christmas tree, but because of the structure of the trunk, it is somewhat more demanding than its relative.

In the first winter, the branches of a tree can break the adhering snow, which means that it must be covered more thoroughly.

The following scheme works best:

• the branches and crown of the seedling must be covered with covering material - this will protect the tree itself;
• line the bottom with spruce branches or cover it with sawdust to protect the root system from freezing.

Like spruce, in the fourth year of life, the risk of causing irreparable harm to the tree in the winter season is sharply reduced and there is no need to cover the pine tree.

How to cover larch for the winter

Larches are also frost-resistant trees and preparation for winter is required only in the first two or three years.

This is done by the same methods as in cases with pine or spruce:

• covering the barrel with a tripod or non-woven material;
• protection of the rhizome with the help of insulation with sawdust or spruce branches.

However, with the last point, things are somewhat better for larch: already in the second year, the fallen needles provide sufficient protection from frost so that the tree survives.

How to cover juniper for the winter

Juniper is one of the most optimal choices for beginner summer residents who want to have something decorative on the site, and calluses rubbed before their eyes from the usual coniferous trees.

Those who planted it on the site have a question: is it necessary to cover the juniper for the winter?

Most varieties are extremely hardy, with the exception of a few southern species.

In winter, for this evergreen shrub, in addition to already known problems, it is also dangerous:

• breaking branches;
• spring and winter sun, which can lead to burns.

In the first years of life the best option there will be a careful wrapping of the trunk with ropes, pulling them together a little. This will save the crown of the seedling.

After, the best option there will be the creation of a shelter by means of poles stuck into the ground, which create a pyramid and the closure of this structure with a covering material.

The top must be left so that the juniper can breathe in its shelter.

When the tree grows up, the creation of such structures becomes difficult and the crown of the tree is usually wrapped in covering material, pulled together with twine or twine.

Usually, in the fifth or sixth year, the juniper already calmly endures the winter without any additional tricks.

Thuja, how to cover for the winter

Thuja is one of the most popular trees used in landscape design. But all the work on planting and caring for it can go to waste if you do not prepare it for the winter period.

Thuja is another member of the cypress family, with sufficient frost resistance to survive the winter in middle lane.

But, like for other relatives, it is extremely undesirable when the tree remains uncovered in the cold.

What needs to be done first is to cover the thuja for the winter from snow, which can deform the trunk and bend the top, this will lead to a loss of aesthetic appearance, which is extremely difficult to return.

Usually any covering material is used for these purposes. white color, spunbond, burlap, a tree cover is sewn from it, which is then “put on” from above.

Or the tree is simply neatly wrapped and tied with a rope over the material to form a trunk and secure the entire structure. In this form, the thuja survives the winter.

It is better to free the tree from the cover at the moment when average temperature the street will be a few degrees above zero, and the earth will move away from the cold.

This will protect the thuja from sunburn and night frosts, which are typical for the spring of the middle lane.

The root system of this tree is no less demanding in preparation for the winter season, since in some regions the plant may die due to freezing of the soil, due to a lack of moisture received.

The best solution is a layer of grass and leaves, which is abundantly sprinkled on the area under the crown of the tree, this will provide both a temperature cushion and additional feeding of the tree in the future.

How to cover a cypress tree for the winter

Cypress is a shrubby evergreen plant from the genus Cypress.

Usually, in the middle forest belt, it is grown in tubs or pots and removed for the winter in a room where the plant lives quietly until autumn.

In the first years of life, in order to instill frost resistance in a tree and weed out cypress plants unsuitable for growing, it is necessary to plant the cypress in the ground, and for the winter cover it with spruce branches, large sawdust or loose snow.

After two years of such selection, the surviving seedlings will have excellent frost resistance. .

If the adult cypress on the site is still planted in the ground, then in order for the tree to please in subsequent years, it is necessary to take seriously its protection and know how to properly cover the cypress for the winter.

At first, it is necessary to carefully wrap the shrub, pulling it slightly with twine or twine, this must be done carefully so as not to damage the fairly tender branches of the tree.

After that, it is necessary to cover the cypress for the winter with a piece of burlap or any other light-colored material, leaving ventilation holes.

The root system must be insulated with sawdust, last year's foliage, mixed with grass or spruce branches. This will also protect the tree in the spring from sunburn.

It is best to open the cypress tree after the snow has completely melted.

Yew, shelter for the winter

Yew is one of the most ancient coniferous plants that have survived to our time in its almost original form.

Its habitat is basically exclusively warm countries, which means that it is extremely sensitive to temperature changes and can die from such a phenomenon as snow.

If the tree is small, then it is best to sew a cover for it for the winter, after carefully forming the crown with the help of twine, close it, leaving holes for ventilation.

It is extremely important that the material is light, and preferably white, because a tree in a dark wrapper can die due to the greenhouse effect and condensation.

It is also better to insulate the roots of the plant by covering them with a layer of cut grass, spruce branches or sawdust.

Fir, shelter for the winter

Fir is a relative of pine and spruce, and some of its species, especially those who come from Siberia, are able to survive in frosts down to minus fifty degrees. Therefore, only young seedlings need protection.

For protection, spruce branches are used, which cover both the rhizome of the young shoot and the crown.

Then, when the first snow falls, the structure falls asleep and waits for a thaw in this state.

Summing up, we can say that no matter what coniferous plant is chosen for planting on your site, you need to take care of preparing it for the upcoming winter.

Especially if the seedling is one or two years old or not known at all.

It is in the first three years of his life that he forms his frost-resistant qualities and adapts to the conditions in a new place.

A few useful facts in conclusion

1. Before preparing for winter, it is necessary to water your tree abundantly. This will allow him to feed for the next few months, when there will be no moisture from the outside.
2. Do not forget that the shelter of the root system - mulching, is mandatory if we want to save our plant.
3. Coniferous plants are evergreen, with the exception of larch, and photosynthesis in their cells does not stop. Therefore it is necessary that sunlight penetrated to the crown even during shelter.
4. If, despite the protective measures taken against sunburn, by the spring the needles on the plants have lost their regular color, then the branches begin to regularly sprinkle with water, and on sunny days the plant is shaded. You need to water the trees with warm water in small portions. When the air temperature becomes about +10 C, the crowns of the affected conifers must be treated with growth biostimulants, for example, HB 101 or Epin.

Landed in current year coniferous plants 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 optimal mode ventilation.

We get ready-made shelters.

Purchased structures are ready-made kits that are easy to install and do not require accessories. 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 the homemade frame with 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 poles 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 stable night frosts, the wooden base is covered 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 legs 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 trunk 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 for covering 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, they open the north side, and after thawing the soil protective material 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. An experienced gardener is always thoughtful about 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 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 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:

1. strong frosty wind;
2. 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 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.

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 perform 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 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:

1. 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;
2. 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;
3. feeding with biohumus and compost will support the vitality of conifers, as well as the introduction of magnesium with dolomite flour;
4. nitrogen in large quantities and manure can harm plantings;
5. 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.