Muscatine Arboretum Association

Arboretum Heading for Winter

Oct 07, 2002

Perhaps you wonder why we are putting blue wrappers on the newly planted trees and didn't remove them from the trees planted last year. We are not only trying to protect the trees from winter weather but also to protect them from deer damage.

Deer are the tree's worst enemy. In the fall they choose a young tree and rub their new antlers against the trunk trying, trying to get them clean or maybe just because they itch. In the process they rub the bark off the trees. If you will walk down to the boardwalk/bridge across the wet land you will notice several quaking and big leaf aspen trees that have been severely damaged by deer. Aspen will regrow from the roots but they shoot up many leaders and make a messy clump. Next year we will select the best of the leaders and cut off the rest.
Other trees that down't have protecters will be wrapped by school children from the Adventist Christian School. They do this each year as one of their civic activities. Green Thumbers usually provides the tree wrap.
Tree wrap is removed each spring. Tree protectors may be left on until the tree is no longer in danger because its bark has matured - usually 4 or 5 years.
We hope you've enjoyed walking in the Arboretum and the Discovery Center. Won't it be wonderful next year when they begin the construction of the Discovery Center Educational Building. It will be a great asset to the community.
See you next Spring!