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Wrapping New Trees |
By Roberta Tolan, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Agent
Young thin-barked trees often are wrapped during the winter in Colorado to help prevent trunk injury called sun scald.
This damage often occurs on the south and west sides of young trees that have not yet formed their protective corky bark. Mild winter daytime weather warms the cambium layer. The cells in the cambium then become vulnerable to low night temperatures.
Tree wrap is often used to protect young trees from this type of injury. A rule of thumb is to wrap the tree around Thanksgiving and to remove the wrap around Easter, usually in late March or April.
Tree wrap left on during the summer months provides a great place for insects to hide and disease to develop.
Photograph courtesy of Judy Sedbrook.
