Late autumn is the perfect time to prepare your trees and shrubs for the winter weather ahead if you live in a cold region where winters are hard. In colder climates, winter can take its toll on ornamental shrubs and trees. Drying winds, freezing and thawing temperatures, snow and ice, and hungry animals can damage and kill young trees and shrubs. Fortunately, you can take a number of protective measures for preparing your trees and shrubs for winter.

For the most part getting these young trees and shrubs ready for winter involves doing little of nothing. At this late date in the season you should avoid watering, fertilizing, and pruning because these tasks stir up plant activity at a time when trees and shrubs should be slowing down and toughening up their wood for winter before the ground freezes. There are a few things to do to insure that your trees and scrubs make it through the winter and sprout new growth in the spring.

Spread approximately four to six inches of mulch such as straw, chopped leaves, wood chips, or some other organic material beneath your trees and shrubs. This prevents alternate freezing and thawing of the soil, which can heave plants up and out of the ground causing harm to the root system during the cold months. Mulch will also limit frost penetration, enabling the roots to absorb more water. To avoid tree trunk rot don't pile mulch closer than three inches against the trunks.

Protect tree trunks from rodents and deer with wire mesh guards as much as possible. Mulch is ideal for your plants as well as provides a cozy home for mice. You don't want them to be able to gnaw on the bark of your trees. Rodent protection is particularly important for trees, because their trunks are permanent. Any damage they may cause will be permanent, possibly endangering the health of the tree. It is an easy DIY project to make protective barriers. Make cylinders out of quarter-inch mesh hardware cloth about a foot in diameter at least 18 to 36 inches high. The wide diameter of the cylinder provides plenty of room for growth and allows you to reach inside to pull any weeds that may grow. Push the bottom of the cylinder an inch or two into the ground to discourage burrowing beneath it.

Winterizing Tips:

• Deeply water your shrubs in late fall, before the first hard frost. This is especially important for any newly-planted shrubs. 

• Apply 4 to 6 inches of mulch to conserve water and protect the roots.

• If deer are a problem install chicken wire cages and apply repellent to prevent damage.

• Use burlap to protect shrubs from winter winds.

Stake tall young trees with wooden stakes, three for each tree, and secure the tree to the stakes using light rope. Remove all ties and stakes in early spring.