Tips from the Pros
Protect your evergreens this winter
One thing we noticed a lot, after last winter was, "Winter Burn". You have seen it, the leaves of evergreens looking brown and dead, similiar to what you see on the Boxwood pictured above.
The wind, ice, very cold temperatures, and yes the sun, can really have a negative impact on evergreens such as Holly, Rhododendron, Cherry Laurel, Schip, Laruel; in your landscape.
A few simple things you can do to help protect your evergreens for the upcoming winter are:
1. Water them consistently and correctly this fall so they can store moisture and prepare themselves for the upcoming winter. This is very beneficial when the ground is frozen and their roots cannot draw in more moisture.
2. Spray them with an anti-dessicant. These are available at your local garden center or home improvement store. An example is a product called WiltPruf. Applying a product, such as WiltPruf, provides a waxy like protection to the leaves to protect them from the winter wind, ice and sun. Think of it being similiar to how we use sunscreen.
3. Create a windbreak. On the windward side of your evergreens, install a simple barrier made of burlap or similiar material. If you have noticed wind damage on all sides, wrap your evergreen shrubs in burlap but leave the top open so air and sunlight gets to the plant. While it may not be the prettiest look, it is like us putting on a jacket in the winter, it will keep the plants protected from the elelments
It's Time To...
Prepare for Fall & Winter
- Fall is a good time to go after those broadleaf weeds in your landscape and lawn. Using a weed killer in the fall works better as the weeds are taking in nutrients and storing them in their roots for winter, so they take in the weed killer as well.
- Remove fading summer annuals before a hard frost and bring any tender perennials indoors.
- Remember to consistently water your landscape, especially new plantings and during a windy fall, up until the ground freezes.
- Plant Spring flowering bulbs, with the pointy end up and dig the holes about twice as deep as the bulb.
- For your lawn, there is probably still time to aerate and overseed, also consider a winter fertilizer around Halloween.
- Fall is a good time to select and plant trees and shrubs. Fall planting encourages good root development, allowing the plants to get established before spring. If weather is dry, provide water up until the ground freezes.
- Apply Preen to your landscape beds to help prevent winter annuals from germinating.
- Winter pansies, flowering kale, flowering cabbage, and fall mums can still be planted now to brighten the garden for the Fall.
- Feed evergreens and deciduous trees with a tree and shrub food. This product contains slow-release nitrogen, sulfate of potash, iron and other micro-nutrients for overall plant growth and development.
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