Mulch root zones to reduce temperature extremes and to decrease fluctuations in soil moisture. Mulching helps shallow-rooted young plants survive the winter. Fall and winter care is especially critical to young plants. Colorado's long Indian summers often create drought conditions followed by sudden deep freezes. With sufficient moisture during extended fall and winter warm periods, plants are less subject to winter kill.
Most winter kill is caused by roots freezing in dry soils.
Water deeply during prolonged winter dry spells, even when plants are dormant. In November, wrap trunks of all shade trees less than four inches in diameter. Remove tree wrap in early April. Leave stakes on young trees for a year, until the tree is well-rooted. Photograph courtesy of Judy Sedbrook.