Proudly living up to their title, evergreens are a constant symbol of emerald beauty in our landscape. But when plagued by harsh weather or infestation in winter, evergreens can't showcase the glowing green we love.
If you see your evergreens rocking an unsightly shade of brown, your trees aren't dead, but they do need some help!
"After spending 15 years of my career caring for trees in New England, I've learned there are three reasons evergreens commonly turn brown in the winter," said Kevin Narbonne of Hartney Greymont, a Davey company.
3 Reasons Evergreen Trees Turn Brown in Winter (And How to Fix)
1. Winter Weather Woes
Problem: "Winter elements are notoriously tough on trees, but evergreens are especially vulnerable," Narbonne notes.
After the ground freezes, evergreens rely exclusively on the water stored in their needles. Once that water runs out, there's no backup supply, so their needles may turn brown and dry out.
Solution: Narbonne recommends a protective spray to help evergreens suffering from dehydration. More info on this below.
2. Sunny Days
Problem: Take the already dry winter and add in the beating sun—now your trees' needles are even thirstier.
"When this combo happens, your evergreens can get sunscald. Basically, the needles being hit by direct sunlight turn brown because they're losing even more water," says Narbonne. He explains that if this is severe, you may also see dead or dried areas of bark.
Solution: To help with the dryness, Narbonne recommends trying an anti-desiccant spray. More on that below. If you suspect sunscald, wrap your trees' bark in burlap to keep them warm and protect them from the winter elements.
3. An Infecting Intruder
Problem: Evergreens attract a few common pests and diseases, like the pine beetle or cytospora canker disease. Browning needles can be a symptom of infection or infestation. Also look for small holes, sawdust or large cankers leaking white sap on branches.
Suspect problem #1 or #2? Learn more about this protective spray for evergreens.
An anti-desiccant is a waxy coating that is sprayed on plants to shield them from moisture loss. Applying this in winter is said to safeguard trees until spring.
For best results, Narbonne likes to wait until the temperature drops to 40-50° F. Before applying, he also checks that there's no rain in the forecast for at least 24 hours. Using the anti-desiccant spray in the right elements at the right time is essential to avoiding tree damage.
Narbonne's team typically does a couple rounds of spraying the formula on dry needles, once in early winter and again in late winter. Then, your trees should be good to go for the season!
The Davey Tree Expert Company's approximately 9,000 employees provide diversified tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental services for the residential, utility, commercial and government markets throughout the U.S. and Canada. Davey has provided Proven Solutions for a Growing World since 1880 and has been employee-owned for 38 years. For more information, visit www.davey.com.
All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.
By Barbara Schneider, Gibbs Gardens
Photos courtesy of Gibbs Gardens
Gibbs Gardens' Inspiration Garden was designed especially for home Gardners. And, it provides great plant ideas throughout. click here. to read the article.
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