WINTER PROTECTION AND MULCHING : Page 220

Sources of Winter Injury, and Remedies. One source of winterinjury is a heaving in clayey soils which exposes roots of small and newlytransplanted plants. This may be remedied by applying a ground mulchof straw litter or manure over the entire area immediately around thetrees and covering the area of root growth. Another source is pre-mature activity of the sap, due to the warmth of the sun's rays. If theground is frozen hard and deep, and sun and severe winds strike ever-green plants they will "scorch" or dry out because sap cannot flow fromthe roots to take the place of that evaporated. Many evergreens whichare exposed to severe winter conditions are in reality killed during themonths of January and February; but the damage done does not be-come evident until time for spring growth to begin during the monthsof April and early May. If the evergreens which have been killedduring the winter months in the nursery are dug and shipped to ownersof estates at a time prior to spring growth and prior to a time when it ispossible for a nurseryman to determine whether or not the plant is in anormal growing condition, plants killed in this manner (because of thelack of winter protection) do not show the injury until the growingseason, at which time, with the beginning of warm growing weather, the