Every fall, homeowners go through the same routine to get ready for winter: rake the leaves, clean the gutters, put away the hose. But there’s one job that often gets missed, and it’s the one that matters most come spring: protecting your trees, shrubs and garden.
Winter is hard on a yard. Snow buries the plants that deer, rabbits and mice normally eat, so they turn to whatever is left above the snow: young tree bark, shrub branches and the perennials you spent all summer growing. Add heavy snow and freezing ground, and an unprotected yard can come out of winter badly damaged.
The fix is simple. With a few rolls of mesh and some posts from Nuvo Iron’s Agriculture Fence Mesh range, you can winter-proof your yard in a single weekend.
Step 1: Wrap your young trees
Why it matters in winter: When food is scarce, rabbits and mice chew the bark of young trees. If they chew all the way around the trunk, the tree may not survive. Rabbits also stand on top of the snow to feed, so the deeper the snow, the higher they can reach.
How to prep: Wrap each young tree in a loose ring of welded wire mesh, a few inches away from the trunk. Press the bottom edge lightly into the soil, and choose a height taller than your usual snowfall.
What to use:
- 1″ Welded Wire Fence Mesh to keep rabbits away from the bark, in 2′, 3′ or 4′ heights.
- ½″ x ½″ Welded Wire Fence Mesh for smaller critters that go after the base of the trunk.
- A 3′ U-Post with Anchor Plate beside each tree to keep the guard upright through wind and snow.
Step 2: Protect shrubs and evergreens from deer
Why it matters in winter: Deer browse much more heavily in winter, and shrubs, evergreens and fruit trees are often first on the menu. A hungry deer can strip a shrub in a single night.
How to prep: Surround shrubs, small trees or whole planting beds with tall netting before the snow arrives. You don’t need to fence the whole yard, just the plants you want to protect.
What to use:
- 7′ x 100′ Deer Netting, tall enough to discourage deer and light enough for one person to put up. One roll covers several shrubs or a full garden bed.
- 8′ T-Bar Posts to hold it up. They drive straight into the ground with no digging, which matters when the soil is starting to firm up.
Step 3: Cover garden beds and perennials
Why it matters in winter: Rabbits nibble perennials, shrub stems and anything left in your garden beds. Damage done in winter means a slow, patchy start in spring.
How to prep: Put a low barrier around beds and borders, with the bottom edge sitting snug to the ground so rabbits can’t slip underneath.
What to use:
- Plastic Fence Mesh in 2′ or 3′ x 25′ rolls for a quick, lightweight barrier that’s easy to cut and store away in spring.
- Plastic Poultry Fence Netting in 2′ or 3′ x 25′ rolls when you want smaller ¾″ openings.
- ¾″ x ¾″ Welded Wire Fence Mesh for a sturdier barrier that holds its shape under heavy snow.
- For larger vegetable gardens, Welded Utility Fence Mesh in 50′ rolls covers more ground affordably.
Step 4: Secure everything for snow and wind
Why it matters in winter: Snow is heavy and winter winds are strong. Loose mesh sags, netting blows over, and once the ground freezes, it’s hard to put a post back in.
How to prep: Before freeze-up, make sure every barrier is anchored firmly and pulled tight.
What to use:
- U-Posts with Anchor Plate in 3′, 4′, 5′ and 6′ lengths to match the height of your mesh. The anchor plate helps hold them firmly in the soil.
- U-Shaped Wire Staples to fasten mesh tightly to wooden stakes, posts or raised-bed frames.
Timing and upkeep
Get it all done in late fall, after the leaves drop but before the ground freezes and the first big snow arrives. Through the winter, check your yard after heavy snowfalls: brush snow off netting, make sure tree guards still sit above the snow line and patch any gaps. In spring, remove tree guards so trunks can grow freely, then roll up your mesh and netting to use again next year.
Get your yard ready
Everything you need is in Nuvo Iron’s Agriculture Fence Mesh range: welded wire mesh for tree guards, deer netting for shrubs, plastic mesh for garden beds, and the posts and staples to hold it all in place. Pick it up at a Nuvo Iron dealer near you, or reach out to our team with any questions.
