Using Burlap to Protect Plants During the Winter
Trees and shrubs endure a lot of punishment during the winter months, but did you know that using burlap can help prevent damage?
An easy, cost-effective approach, this course fabric can keep your plants protected throughout the entire winter season. It can be used in many different ways, including as a screen, a fence, or a wrap. All of these options provide a layer of protection for shrubs, plants, and trees. When the fabric is used properly, your plants will be able to withstand the harshest conditions.
Burlap Wraps
Burlap can shield plants against winter burn, a damaging combination of depleted soil moisture and winter sunlight. A long, thin strap of jute fabric can help keep your deciduous plants protected and allow them to breathe. A long strip is more effective than a wider, larger piece, to ensure full coverage. Trees have so many topographic features that are uneven, which could create coverage gaps if large, wide pieces of jute are used, leaving them open to sunscald damage. Sunscald damage occurs when the bark of a tree is warmed by the sun. The tissue below perks up but once the sun disappears behind a cloud or a building, the bark’s temperature drops quickly, which could leave the bark cracked and dry and kill the tissue. Smaller, thinner strips allow you to completely cover the area of each tree to offer enhanced protection against the harsh winter elements.
Burlap Screens
Certain shrubs and trees can withstand some wind, but others will lose needles or leaves, dry out, and suffer twig or bark damage. A burlap screen can be erected around your evergreens during the winter to keep them protected. The screen will prevent the plants from drying out in harsh winds, otherwise known as wind burn, and protect against the harmful rays of the sun when it is erected on all four sides of a tree. Wind burn occurs when plants have been treated roughly by intense wind damage, which causes plants to lose their moisture. You will need to erect a screen from the ground up in order to protect smaller evergreens, but the bottom portion of the screens can be filled with leaves for moisture retention and extra protection.
Burlap Fences
You can use burlap rolls to construct a fence to keep your maples, spruces, pines, and cedars protected. Salt levels should be monitored within any areas or plants that are covered by jute fabric, as it can trap salt within its fibers. You can also use the coarse fabric to keep animals such as deer away from your plants and trees during the winter months. If you live in an area that receives heavy snow every year, you may want to monitor the strength of your fence. If too much ice or snow accumulates on the fencing, the structure could block essential airflow or fall apart.
Our previous blog, Burlap Used to Protect Plant Life During Winter, offers more information on other ways you can keep your plants protected. NYP proudly serves the horticultural, agricultural, and industrial industries, as well as a variety of government agencies, by providing jute and other custom packaging fabrics and textile bags.
NYP-Corp makes and distributes a variety wholesale nursery supplies for any landscaping, agricultural, or horticultural environment.