Winter Plant Protection: Cold Weather Care
Winter can be a harsh time for your landscape plants. Cold temperatures, freezing winds, and heavy snow can cause damage ranging from broken branches to the death of the plant. A little preparation in the late fall can go a long way in protecting your valuable trees, shrubs, and perennials, ensuring they emerge healthy and ready to grow in the spring.
💧 Tip 1: Water Well Before the Freeze
One of the biggest dangers to plants in winter is dehydration.
If the fall has been dry, give all your plants, especially evergreens and newly planted trees and shrubs, a deep, thorough watering before the ground freezes solid. Well-hydrated plants are much more resilient to winter damage.
🍂 Tip 2: Apply a Layer of Mulch
Mulch acts like a blanket for the soil.
🛡️ Tip 3: Wrap and Shield Vulnerable Plants
Some plants need extra physical protection from wind and animals.
Wrap with Burlap
Broadleaf evergreens like boxwoods and arborvitae are prone to "winter burn" from sun and wind. Create a screen by driving stakes into the ground and wrapping them with burlap, leaving the top open for air circulation.
Use Tree Guards
Protect the thin bark of young trees from rabbits and other animals by placing a plastic tree guard around the base of the trunk.
Tie Up Upright Shrubs
For upright shrubs like arborvitae, gently tie the branches together with twine to prevent them from splaying apart and breaking under the weight of heavy snow or ice.
🧂 Tip 4: Avoid Salt Damage
Be careful with de-icing salts near your landscape beds. The salt spray can be very damaging to plants. Use sand or a pet-safe, plant-safe ice melt alternative on walkways near your gardens.
Give your landscape the protection it needs to survive the winter. The Box Advantage Group offers professional fall cleanup and winterization services for your gardens and landscape. Contact us to prepare your property for the cold season.
