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Show Protect your trees this winter season As the trees lose their leaves and the sun is at a lower angle, the chance of many trees getting their bark damaged during the winter is greatly increased. Maples, birches, honeylocust, Mountain Ash and stone fruit trees are some of the most sensitive to southwest injury during the winter. The damage is caused by the sun heating up the bark during the day, which causes the cambium layer to grow, then the bark freezing at night. The freezing temperatures kill the newly-growing cells. This alternating freezing and thawing causes the cambium to die. This in turn causes the b ark to split and Peel back. To prevent this from happening, several things can be done. Paint the trunk of the tree, and any large branches that may be susceptible to winter injury, with' a white latex exterior paint. This should be diluted half and half with water. Paint the trunk to where the main branches come out. Another method would be to put a board against the trunk, or in front of it, to keep the sun off. White tree wraps or tree guards can also be purchased from a nursery to protect the trunks. |