How do I winterize young fruit trees? The guy who owns the house planted a pear tree and a crab apple tree this past spring before he found out he was leaving. He left us specific watering instructions for the summer, but didn't tell us what to do in the winter. I'm assuming I need to put straw or something around the base, but am pretty much clueless. It's pretty cold here all winter and we should be getting our snow in the next week or so.