What trees are you talking about, and are you in fact planning to enter a show with any of them? If trees are that fragile, and you get a lot of ice, you might want to consider some kind of (unheated) protection. Otherwise, you'd just have to clean up whatever needs fixing. If a real show is involved, you'll have notice and time to shape things up.

Nah, not thinking that far into the future for myself. Just marveling and wondering how the trees (no particular species) in show photos and that I've seen in person were kept so flawless.

Lucy, I would never in a life time thought of putting a tile under a tree in the yard or my flower bed keep the roots growing laterally. I'll certainly do that.

And Jim, thanks for getting back with me on Arkansas clubs.

Ha ha! They're not flawless until the day(s) before showing, when foliage is clipped to perfection, moss is laid down on the soil (and removed afterward), trunk scratches are touched up with something or other (there's always debate about how far to go in 'faking' things), and the pot is cleaned up, sometimes leaves are even shined up (shades of house plants!).