Dealing With Winter Tree Burn
This happens with evergreen trees and shrubs. During the winter, when these plants gather solar energy during photosynthesis, they release water during the process. It basically results in the drying of the leaves and needles, when the tree or shrub can’t replace this water due to the frozen temperature, leaves and needles will dehydrate resulting in an unsightly brown color.
In severe cases, death is an immediate effect. However in most cases, the worst you may be looking at is loss of foliage. There is no one true method toward preventing winter burn other than choosing a different species of tree or shrub to plant. However, you can take preventative measures:
- Wrap tree or shrub with burlap for insulation against drying winds
- Fertilize them regularly
- Remove stems that have been killed after new growth has begun
- Mulch accordingly