Helping Evergreen Trees with Winter Burn

If you’re living in a very cold region, you probably always look forward to a warm and sunny day that warms up your gloomy winter.

Unfortunately, the heat of the sun during a cold day is not something your evergreens like. During winter, the heat of the sun actually works against evergreens. The damage they obtain from this will lead to the brown coloration of the plant when the spring season arrives.

One of the best things you can do to protect your evergreens during winter is to hire a tree service in Jackson, MS. However, you shouldn’t just leave all the work to a professional. You also have to do your part.

What is Winter Burn?

First of all, what is winter burn? It is quite simple to explain.

For those who don’t know, evergreen shrubs hold on to their foliage during the cold months, unlike other plants. To make sure their needles stay green the entire season, they will require a lot of moisture.

The needles will lose moisture if the harsh wind or bright sun is in the forecast. The roots of the plants also cannot take up enough water from the soil since the ground is frozen during winter. That is why they can’t replace the moisture they lost. This leads to dry needles that result in winter burns.

Preventing Winter Burn Before Winter Arrives

One of the best tips you can follow is to think ahead. There are a couple of things you can do to protect your shrubs against this condition.

To prevent evergreen winter burn, here are several things you’ve got to do:

Wrap your shrubs for protection if they are exposed directly to wind or harsh sun in winter.

Try to use an anti-desiccant spray. For those who don’t know, this spray applies a wax-like coat that helps plants preserve moisture during winter.

Apply 3 to 4 inches of mulch to the soil around your trees and shrubs. This will allow you to seal in the moisture whenever you water your plants.

During fall, you should water thoroughly your shrubs and trees until the cold season arrives. Your shrubs and trees can easily avoid winter burns if they are hydrated properly.

How to Treat Winter Burn?

Just because your trees and shrubs have winter burns does not mean it’s over. They can still return to their original state. While brown spots may make your trees appear dead, they’ll probably sprout new needles sooner or later.

Try to poke a tiny spot of an affected branch using a pocket knife or your fingernail. It should be moist and green underneath. If this is the case, then it is still alive. It can still sprout new needles. On the other hand, get rid of the branch if they are dry and brown underneath.

How to Know if Your Trees or Shrubs Are Affected?

Winter burn typically starts at the tips of the needles. It will then gradually move until the entire tree or shrub is dry and brown. If you need help identifying winter burn in plants, you can always rely on a professional tree care company.