Ready your evergreens for ravages of winter
We've enjoyed a lovely autumn with seasonal temperatures and lots of sunny days. While gardeners appreciate lots of rain-free days to work in the garden, evergreen plants need adequate soil moisture to help them through the winter unscathed.
Both broad leaf evergreens, like rhododendrons, boxwood and holly, and needled evergreens continue to lose moisture through their foliage in winter. When the soil is frozen, replacement water is unavailable for roots to rehydrate the plant. When plants dry, their foliage turns brown. Deep watering in fall readies evergreens for winter conditions.
After plants have been watered, mulch with several inches of hardwood mulch. Keep mulch pulled back a couple inches from the trunk or critters, seeking shelter in the mulch, may nibble on the trunk's bark.
In addition to retaining moisture in the soil, mulch insulates the soil, keeping it warmer longer — a must if evergreens are newly planted. Roots can continue reaching into their new residence until the ground freezes.
An anti-desiccant can further diminish moisture loss. Apply it in late fall following directions on the label. Products like Wilt Stop put a thin coating on foliage to reduce transpiration. Sunlight and snow break down the coating over time, so you may have to reapply in winter.
If evergreens have a history of winter injury, protect them from damaging winter sun and harsh winds. Construct a screen of burlap or other fabric and place on the windward side. Or build a cage to surround the plant. Snow fencing, chicken wire or wood stakes covered with burlap are all appropriate choices to fashion cages. Whichever material you choose, leave the top open so plants can still receive air, water and light.
Some evergreens, like Alberta spruces, are particularly susceptible to winter burn. Wrap them loosely with an open-weave fabric that breathes. Do not use dark-colored fabric or plastic — they can cause damage to the plant.
Many multibranched evergreens, like arborvitae, yews and junipers, are prone to breakage from accumulation of ice and snow. To fortify them for upcoming winter storms, loosely wrap them with rope or heavy twine. Begin at the base of the plant, pulling branches up as you wind toward the top. Once you've reached the top, reverse the process back to the base. Remember to remove it in spring so the plant can grow unencumbered.
If a snowstorm does dump heavy snow on evergreens, brush it off with your hands or use a broom to sweep it off. Do not violently shake branches — they are brittle and may break. Do not attempt to remove ice. Let it melt with warmer temperatures.
What would our landscapes be without the structure and year-round color that evergreens offer? Prepare them for the brutal weather ahead to minimize winter injury and keep them in top form.
• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. Call (630) 293-1040, ext. 2, or visit planterspalette.com.