This year, along the Front Range, we saw one of the most beautiful autumn leaf color displays in a long time. The correct combination of moisture when the trees grow leaves in spring and the mild temperature at the end of the growing season make our deciduous trees truly glow.

Usually by now, the temperature has plummeted and stopped all growth, but this is not the case this year. Although it seems that the mild temperature will continue for a while, at least for a while, we still need to carefully prepare our landscape for the coming cold weather.

You can now do some simple things to keep the trees through the winter. One of the tasks is tree packaging.

Trees with thin bark, such as linden, acacia, fruit trees, maple and bauhinia, as well as recently planted young trees, can receive additional protection during the winter months. What to protect? Sun burns and frost cracks. These are temperature-related injuries that can cause serious damage to trees and even death. Over time, the bark of most trees will harden and wrinkle, and packaging is no longer needed.

Sun burns and frost cracks occur in winter, when the angle of the sun in the sky is low and the temperature rises, it will cause the cells of trees to wake up. Water and nutrients begin to flow in the cambium of the trunk. When the sun goes down and the temperature drops below freezing, those active cells freeze and rupture, causing the bark to split. Eventually, the bark falls off, exposing the dead tissue. If you have ever noticed that a tree has something that looks like scars or obvious damage on the south or southwest side of the trunk, it is very likely that you have seen a sun burn or frostbite.

You can wrap the trees yourself or hire a professional to help you. Many garden centers and nurseries have large volumes of tree wraps. It is a thick crepe paper type material that protects the torso from temperature fluctuations.

The important thing is to start from the bottom and go to the first (lowest) branch. Let the paper overlap approximately one-third of the width of the roll. By starting from the bottom, it creates a pattern that allows moisture from rain or snow to run away from the trunk. If you start from the top and move down, water may get trapped under the paper, causing other problems.

Use tape or twine to secure the bottom and top wraps. If you use tape, make sure that the tape is away from the suitcase itself and only applies to paper. The rule of thumb for timing is to revolve around Thanksgiving and delete it around tax day. Do not leave the paper on the trunk throughout the growing season, as it can become a hiding place for insects and can hold extra moisture on the trunk, which is not good for the tree.

When you are preparing your trees for winter, it is also a good idea to add 2 to 4 inches of mulch near the roots, but do not touch the trunk. The mulch helps reduce evaporation and protects the roots from temperature fluctuations. By now, your irrigation system may have passed the winter, but during warm and dry periods like this fall, trees (especially young and evergreen trees) need to be hydrated to reduce stress and increase overall vitality. Approximately 10 gallons are sprayed per inch of tree diameter. Giving your trees a little extra TLC in winter is an investment in their health and longevity.

Deryn Davidson (Deryn Davidson) is Colorado State University's Horticulture Extension Agent, responsible for the interim county governors of Boulder County and Jefferson County in Longmont.

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