Garden Trees, Shrubs & Vines
Danielle Ramos-Sullivan
When warm temperatures end, one of the main concerns of gardeners everywhere is how to keep your precious plants and trees protected as the long, harsh winter rolls in. If you’ve recently planted a new tree, you may be even more concerned. However, there is a simple way to protect young tree roots in the winter and all you need are some rocks.
Fall is the best time for planting a new tree. The scorching days of sun are over but the snowy days of winter aren’t here yet. This allows for a young tree to settle in its new home and plant firm roots without having to take on the stress of extreme temperatures just yet.
Of course, ensuring that the hole you dig is just the right size for your tree trunk and filling it with luscious, nutrient-rich soil is paramount. Your tree will have a good few weeks to become settled and adjusted. Toward the end of fall, you’ll want to start taking measures for the upcoming winter and the first thing to do is gather some sizable and heavy rocks.
This rock hack protects young tree roots
Virrage Images/Shutterstock
Since young trunks are not usually that wide in circumference, all you’ll need is about three substantial rocks for each tree. Lay the rocks around the perimeter of the base, about two inches away from, but not touching, the trunk. The goal is to provide a firm stabilization for the young tree roots when the top of the tree sways during windy winter storms. This will also help insulate them from freezing temperatures. The rocks steady the temperature of the soil, helping to prevent frost heaving, which is when the soil freezes up and then thaws over and over causing repeated expansion and contraction. They can also seal up any holes in the soil that allow the cold air in.
Another way to avoid frost heaving is to lay down mulch around the base of the trunk. Keep a six-inch free space around the base, creating a ring of mulch. This will also help preserve the soil’s temperature.
