Winter is over — or so we think! This time of year, one can never be too careful. Though the temperatures have been above freezing, we’re not in the clear yet when it comes to overnight temperatures and the possibility of a final winter squall. With much of the snow melted, you may have already begun to notice withered evergreens, brown spots, or entirely brown leaves. What should one do to assess winter damage? Check out our Coping with Winter Damage article by clicking Here!
Evergreens are a hearty bunch. Though they hang onto much of their leaves throughout the year, evergreens are fall-shedding and drop leaves too! The secondary growth (old) from the center of the trunk is where they drop their leaves to store carbs for winter. This is how they make it through tough winters! But from time to time, they need a little help from us. There are a few easy DIY methods to help reduce leaf burn and branch damage. One product that we recommend is WiltPruf, a polymer spray derived from pine trees. WiltPruf is great to help protect the moisture content of leaves in evergreen trees and shrubs including skip laurels, azaleas, hollies, magnolias, rhododendrons, and boxwoods. The best time to spray WiltPruf is during the fall on a mild day when rain is not in the immediate forecast, as it needs dry conditions to be effective.
Another method that can really help reduce evergreen damage is by being a proactive home gardener. After snowfall, knock off the snow from your shrubs with a long handled broom. The key is to not let the snow sit for too long and freeze into a hard block of ice.
Recently, one of our customers told us how they’d construct open plywood boxes around their boxwoods which sat slightly under the eaves. The boxes helped prevent the melting snow and ice from landing on top of them.
With a little preparation and by being proactive, your evergreens will be healthy and happy come Spring!