Hi all, I have a question about preparing my Emerald Green and Golden Globe Arborvitaes for winter. Normally I wrap them in burlap, but heavy snow tends to pull the burlap covering the Emerald Green's downward which ultimately bends the tops downward somewhat. To remedy this, this year I thought I would build a tee pee type stand over each bush to give it support before wrapping. The only concern I have is the air pocket that would be formed between the bush and and the stand/burlap. I know snow helps to insulate so I'm not sure what to do. Is my plan a sound one?

Where do you live roughly? Arborvitaes are pretty hardy so don't need much protection usually. If anything just provide a snow break around the top so they get snow around the base but not a heavy build up along the tops. But the downside to all that is eventually they will get too big for you to do all this. I'd leave them be and let them develop the strong stems to withstand the snow load. If the snow load bothers you then just beat them to knock some of the heavy snow off.

A quick Google search gives a USDA hardiness zone down to 4, even 3. That's -25°F.

So unless you're in a lower zone, they'll do just fine without protection. Like Amanda above me already stated, just knock off excess snow with a broom or whatever to prevent bending/breakage of limbs.

'Knocking snow off with a broom' may not work if the snow happens heavy, overnight.

I can't imagine it makes much of a different air pocket WITH a teepee versus without.

Sally is right, you can get a huge heavy snowfall during the night, and by morning, the damage is already done. You sometimes just can't keep up with it. OP doesn't say where they're located so it's hard to make a guess why they feel it's necessary or even recommended.

Near me there's a house that every year wraps up their arborvitaes and I always wonder why. This year they seem to have cut them shorter too (I'm sure it gets harder to wrap them the taller they get unless they hire a landscaper to do it). The house faces a busy street, but they seem to create more problems with the burlap, there are always completely brown dead ones mixed between the others, so the burlap isn't really helping much.

If you're in an area with heavy snowfall (either overnight or day) you just have to roll with the punches. Get out the next day if you feel like or not.

[quote="pepper23"] Where do you live roughly?

I live in Northern Michigan so not only do we get a ton of snow, but we have plenty of deer so the protection is for both. Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply!

Ah, another Michigander!
Elaine, I think constructing a support of some sort for the burlap would be very beneficial, the "air pocket" would be similar to using a "low tunnel" to protect plants in the garden. And yes, the deer do love to eat the cedars/arborvitae!

How old are your Arborvitaes?