Baby trees need to be protected in the winter just like a small plant. There must be great care taken to protect your young trees from winter winds, frost and ice. New trees must be protected for at least two winters.

By covering the tree and adding mulch the tree’s surrounding soil from frost and help provide moisture for the tree’s root system by retaining water. For the step-by-step process, please look below.

1. Buy tree wrap from a local home improvement store or nursery. 
2. Wrap your tree’s trunk up to the first branches. Be sure to overlap the layers and secure them with tape or twine. It can then be removed in early spring.
3. Put a mulch layer of about 4 to 8 inches (10.2 to 20.3 cm) around the tree’s base spread the mulch at least 2 feet (0.61 m) out from the trunk. Do not let it touch the tree’s trunk. 
4.  Newly planted trees do not yet have a root system that is established enough to reach water deep in the ground. So, before the ground freezes make sure to provide enough water, especially at the root ball of newly planted trees in order to keep your tree hydrated. 
5. To keep your trees from animals that may chew on the bark in winter by installing a plastic tree guard or other hardware specifically made for trees around the bottom of your tree and approximately 1 foot (0.3 m) higher than the average snow level.
6. To stop splitting and breaking from ice buildup and winter storm tie any center branches together loosely with twine, especially those of evergreen trees. When the spring comes don’t forget to prune any damaged branches out to prevent disease and more breakage.