Tune into our WCCO Radio “Smart Gardens” show on Saturdays, 8-9 a.m., for answers to your lawn and garden questions. Dial in AM 830 on your radio or ask your smart speaker. Or listen to Smart Gardens podcasts when you have the time.

Pests and diseases

Protecting trees and shrubs from animals and the winter sun is critical for plant health. Fences are the best defence against animals, while white tree guards protect the trunks of young and thin-barked trees from the sun, which causes the trunks to crack.

To protect trees from small animals, use 4-foot-tall hardware cloth buried 2-3 inches into the ground. The fencing should not touch any part of a plant—leave room.

Only use white tree guards. White reflects sunlight and keeps the trunks frozen, preventing the freeze-thaw cycle tha

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