Today's hours: 8:00am-7:00pm

Get Directions

Your Cart

0 items

November 12, 2009

Prevent Winter Burn NOW!

Halloween has come and gone.  So now it is time to start thinking about…Spring?  Yes, that’s right:  Spring.

Halloween has come and gone.  So now it is time to start thinking about…Spring?  Yes, that’s right:  Spring.  Forget about Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve for a moment.  The most popular question during spring at Sunnyside Gardens is this:  What caused my evergreens to brown over the winter? The brown, dead appearance of evergreens in spring time is referred to as winter burn, which is caused by loss of moisture in the needles during winter and late fall. With a little winter protection (starting now), your evergreens will be green instead of brown at the start of spring.

What is winter burn? Winter burn is the browning of foliage due to rapid moisture loss.  The plants can’t replace the loss of water because the ground is frozen.

What causes it? Everything!  Winter damage is mainly caused by scraping winds and cold temps.  But snow, ice, salt, bright sun and animals can also cause large amounts of damage.

What kind of damage will happen? There could be scald, browning, die back, root injury, and heaving.

How do I prevent winter burn?

1.)Water all season, up until it freezes and put an application of wilt stop on the foliage.

2.)Avoid direct sun and windy locations.

3.) Wrap burlap around evergreens or build a screen.

4.)Plant evergreens that have proven resistance to winter burn.  For example, evergreens such as ‘Rushmore’ arborvitae, ‘Techny’ arborvitae, and various junipers are great.

Other Garden Tips

Pot with various herbs

Herb Care 101: Flavorama!

Indoor herb gardening allows you fresh herbs at your fingertips, as well as a home filled with fresh fragrance and greenery. We’re sharing a few easy tips for growing your own herbs indoors including: Sun, heat, water, trimming and organic fertilizer.

Learn More

Seed Starting

Growing plants from seed can be a fun and exciting project to jump-start the gardening season for the whole family.   Growing seeds is a lot…

Learn More
Perennial Section Sign

Bee & Butterfly Boulevard Beds

We’re creating Bee-friendly and Butterfly-attracting boulevard gardening options! A Garden with a Greater Purpose An effective way to garden with a greater goal is to…

Learn More