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Do I still need to wrap my Arborvitaes in Winter? #922868

Asked December 15, 2025, 10:20 AM EST

I planted 4 American Pillar Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'American Pillar') in 2020...they are over 10ft tall now. Do I still need to wrap them during the winter? They are next to a fence in the backyard (less wind, no salt exposure from roads). I have been wrapping them in burlap every winter to protect them, but I have not wrapped them yet and I'm worried given the Artic Blast/Polar Vortex issues that we're having already in December! But is it time to stop wrapping them anyway?

Ingham County Michigan

Expert Response

Hi Megan, thanks for Using Ask Extension

An American Pillar Arborvitae over ten feet tall and well established at five years since planting, should not need to be protected especially if it is not subject to winds and salt. Even with subzero temperatures and windchill temps below –20°F for multiple days can cause minor cosmetic browning, from which established plants can usually recover in spring.  

Your established arborvitae in your sheltered back yard should no longer need winter wrapping. Arctic blasts may cause cosmetic browning, but plants should recover. Focus on soil moisture and mulch prior to winter, not burlap. If you are still concerned, you can place a burlap screen on the windward side rather than wrapping the whole tree. Watering deeply before soil freeze and maintaining 3–4 inches of mulch will help the plants through the winter.  Expect some browning which is recoverable.  

Check out the following links:

 https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/winter-burn/

https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=897413

https://extension.psu.edu/preventing-winter-burn-on-evergreen-landscape-plants

I hope this helps.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied December 17, 2025, 6:07 PM EST
Thank you! This helps!

Megan K. Maas, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Human Development & Family Studies
Michigan State University
www.MeganMaas.com
Pronouns: she/her

From: ask=<personal data hidden> on behalf of Ask Extension
Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 6:07 PM
To: Maas, Megan
Subject: Re: Do I still need to wrap my Arborvitaes in Winter? (#0192784)

Dear Megan, here's the response to your question:

Hi Megan, thanks for Using Ask Extension

An American Pillar Arborvitae over ten feet tall and well established at five years since planting, should not need to be protected especially if it is not subject to winds and salt. Even with subzero temperatures and windchill temps below –20°F for multiple days can cause minor cosmetic browning, from which established plants can usually recover in spring.  

Your established arborvitae in your sheltered back yard should no longer need winter wrapping. Arctic blasts may cause cosmetic browning, but plants should recover. Focus on soil moisture and mulch prior to winter, not burlap. If you are still concerned, you can place a burlap screen on the windward side rather than wrapping the whole tree. Watering deeply before soil freeze and maintaining 3–4 inches of mulch will help the plants through the winter.  Expect some browning which is recoverable.  

Check out the following links:

 https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/winter-burn/

https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=897413

https://extension.psu.edu/preventing-winter-burn-on-evergreen-landscape-plants

I hope this helps.


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The Question Asker Replied December 17, 2025, 7:20 PM EST

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