In our landscaping endeavors, trees play a vital role. They grace our surroundings with beauty, offer us shade, and contribute to the environment's well-being. However, during Colorado's winter, young trees can be vulnerable to a condition known as sunscald, which can harm their bark. In this article, we would like to stress the importance of tree wrap as a gentle protector against sunscald and its role in nurturing tree health.

Most people have heard of sunscald but do not know what it actually is or how to prevent it. Sunscald, similar to "sunburn" for trees, occurs during Colorado's winter months, from December to February. Intense sunlight targets the south and southwest sides of deciduous tree trunks. This sunlight gently warms the bark, prompting dormant cells to become active. However, with changing weather or evening's arrival, temperatures often drop below freezing, leading to damage in the form of discolored and sunken bark. The bark on a young tree could become cracked and peeling. Bark helps with photosynthesis by transporting the food produced by the leaves to the roots. Cracked or peeling bark would disrupt this process.