Trees enter a dormant stage during the winter months. Still, their adoption of a dormant stage does not mean that any one of them is sure to survive in the absence of the proper level of care.

Consider the challenges facing each tree

If you live near a forested area, you might expect some visitors during the winter months. You could have deer coming onto your property. In that case, you need to put a physical barrier around any young tree. That should keep deer from eating the foliage and the bark.

While deer are easy to spot, another challenge can remain hidden. That is, one posed by scale insects, mites and aphids. Any one of those creatures might have laid eggs in one or more trees. That could lead to an infestation in the spring.

In order to prevent that unwanted event, it helps to use dormant oil. Apply the oil to the branches when the temperature is above freezing. Yet be sure that you do not wait until the temperature has risen above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If you plan to go shopping for some dormant oil, know which kind to buy. Look for one that has a low viscosity. That should spread easily. Just follow the instructions on the label.

Tend to the trees’ most basic needs

Sunshine belongs on a list of trees’ most basic needs. Still, sunshine gets tissue growing in the area of the bark. That can create an added challenge for a tree with thin bark. The Tree Service in San Jose is of the opinion that cold night air can kill the new tissues.

In order to keep that from happening, a smart homeowner introduces the practice of wrapping. A plastic tree guard serves as the best type of wrap. Cover the bark from the tree’s base up to its lowest branches.

What about evergreens? Do those ever need wrapping? A gardener might want to use that tactic, if the evergreen is weak, exposed to wind, needs watering, or has been planted recently. In that case, it makes sense to wrap it in burlap. With evergreens, burlap works better than a plastic guard.

Be sure to lock in each tree’s moisture. Do that by using an anti-desiccant. Purchase that anti-desiccant well before the temperatures drop. Use it while the temperature is above freezing, but wait until each tree is dry. In other words, do not use it after a rain, or other form of precipitation.

One other note of caution: wait until the season of dormancy. If used prior to that season, the anti-desiccant can keep a plant from carrying out all the functions that help to ensure completion of the events that guarantee eventual appearance of the plant’s desired amount of growth.