Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
Many animals grow a dense, warm fur before winter or they simply hibernate during the cold season. We humans put on thick jackets, hats and gloves to protect ourselves from the cold. But how do trees survive the winter? And is special winter protection even necessary? We have compiled this information for you in this article.
Fallen leaves are left as winter protection for the tree roots
Natural protective mechanisms of deciduous trees
Deciduous trees usually have green foliage that turns yellow or reddish in fall and eventually falls off. But why is that at all? The fall of leaves in autumn is a protective mechanism of the tree, because the leaves have to be supplied with water and nutrients. If they stayed on the tree during the dark winter months, the tree would not be able to provide them with sufficient moisture and would gradually dry out. Instead, he just throws them off and goes into hibernation. The autumn coloring is explained by the declining photosynthesis: as long as this is in full swing, the leaves remain green due to the chlorophyll. As light intensity decreases, so does the amount of green pigment, until it is eventually replaced by yellow and red hues.
Other natural protective measures:
- However, the fallen leaves have another function: they cover the root area of the tree and therefore protect it from the cold.
- Since twigs and branches cannot simply be thrown off, the tree wraps itself in an insulating layer of wood. This consists of the water-bearing Cambrian, which is covered by the dry bark.
However, not all deciduous trees shed their leaves in autumn, some are evergreen. They have developed other protective mechanisms against the cold. The same applies to most conifers, with the exception of the European larch.
How to support trees in winter
Basically, you should only plant trees in the garden that are sufficiently hardy. This applies to all native species, but many imported, frost-hardy deciduous and coniferous trees are also suitable. More sensitive species, on the other hand, should only be planted in appropriately protected locations or cultivated in a pot right away. You can also support hardy trees in winter with these measures:
- Cut back the crowns in the fall. However, this only works for some deciduous trees.
- Coniferous trees, on the other hand, are not pruned.
- Distribute the fallen leaves evenly on the tree disc.
- Consider mulching them.
- Cut branches are very suitable as winter protection.
- Fruit trees in particular are given a lime coat.
- This sometimes makes sense for other deciduous trees in very sunny locations.
If you fertilize your trees, you should stop fertilizing by the end of July at the latest so that young shoots still have the chance to mature.
tips
Hardy trees in pots can usually spend the winter outside, but you should wrap the pot in insulating fleece and cover the substrate with a thick layer of mulch and spruce or fir twigs. On frost-free days, the potted tree should be watered to prevent it from drying out.