Serious winter weather has been delayed at settling in here in SE Michigan, where I live. Good thing, as I had procrastinated in placing the protective shielding around all of the new Conifers added this year.   I take these extra measures to shield young plants from the sun and wind for their first winter (sometimes two), in this Zone 5a garden. The reason for doing so dates back months ago.  I removed my new treasures from their pots, and carefully teased away as much of the organic-based, potting medium from their root systems as I deemed safe.  While doing so, I untangle the root system and spread out the flare roots prior to planting into a much leaner, mineral-based soil mix that makes up my raised beds.  This opening-up of the root system does extend the period of time it takes for the recent additions to become fully established into their new homes.
What follows is a brief summary of what I do to help the (as yet), settled in plants cope with the changing seasons.  The process is pretty quick and easy to accomplish, does not require any specialized tools, and is inexpensive.
I start with the paper yard waste bags that are available at most hardware and garden centers.  I unfold a bag, open it up  (as if it’s to be filled), and cut off the bottom of the bag so that I’m left with a paper tube.  As I don’t care to look at the printed company logos all winter,  I turn the paper tube inside out.
Nearly all of the Conifers  I add to the garden are small so the full length of the paper tube isn’t needed.  I work one end of the paper tube down and inside the tube until it reaches the other end.  What results is a double-walled paper tube, that’s roughly 18” tall X 18” in diameter.  If more than 18” in height is needed,  I simply roll one edge down inside the tube until I’ve the height I need.
I  secure the paper tubes by pushing 3 bamboo stakes (usually evenly-spaced), around the plant, with the stakes in contact with the paper tube and the conifer centered within.  These paper tubes keep the winter sun and wind off my little plants, the paper holds up thru the winter weather, and very rarely have I had a tube blown off by the wind.  The open tops allow in all of the rain or snow, along with light, and do not trap too much heat on sunnier days.

The above “Bagged” conifer is planted atop a raised bed with a full Southern exposure.  The protective tube shields it from the desiccating environment.  Un-bagged, the conifer would be in full sun as well as windswept all winter long.

To better secure the bag around the Pinus virginiana ‘Wate’s Golden Broom’ (that is planted on this exposed site), I drove each stake thru the lower end of the bag.

Then I simply roll the upper end down inside and tuck the top of the stakes under the rolled, lip-edge of the tube.

The rock-work of this bed makes staging the stakes evenly around the conifer impossible.  I work the stakes in (where possible), and the effect is the same.

I roll the North side of the bags down farther than the South side. Doing so keeps the lower angled winter sun from striking the inside of the bag on its North side, preventing heat build-up inside the bag.

For conifers of unproven hardiness (in my garden), such as this Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Filip’s Golden Tears’, I will “Bag” them for an additional year or even two, until the plant has grown on to attain a larger caliper before it’s subjected to a winter without shielding it.

Yet another “Bagged” conifer.

Snug as a Bug, and waiting for Spring!

Jacques