Winter Mulch
When the ground is just about frozen, it's time to apply a winter mulch, especially around garden plants with shallow roots and any new additions that have not had a full season to get established. The purpose of winter mulch is to keep the ground consistently frozen. Without this protection, the soil will likely thaw and refreeze. As the soil expands and contracts during this cycle of freezing and thawing, it can push plants up out of the ground, exposing their roots to biting cold and drying winds. Fallen deciduous leaves are one option for winter mulch, as is an additional layer of bark mulch. The best winter mulch for plants in cold zones is snow. Snow keeps the ground consistently frozen and it disappears in the spring. The next best thing is to use evergreen boughs. You can get them for free at this time of the year, extra cuttings off of Christmas trees in places like home improvement stores have loads for the taking.

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Protect Shrubs from Winter Burn
Arborvitae and yews are some of the most susceptible shrubs to desiccation and winter burn. Younger, smaller plants can be protected by propping pine boughs -- one way to recycle your Christmas tree branches -- over the plants to act as a windbreak. This also helps catch snow, which acts as insulation. Low evergreens that are covered with snow are better protected and able to withstand wintry temperatures than those left to weather the winter sun and wind.
 

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