What is Winter Burn?
Winter burn is a condition that affects evergreens, causing them to brown and, in extreme cases, die. Most conifer trees and plants around the valley hold their needles and leaves year-round. Wind and drought conditions can cause these plants to suffer from winter burn and browning. Winter burn occurs when the plant cannot replace the moisture lost through transpiration. Factors like warm and sunny fall or winter days can cause a delay in plant dormancy. Typically, a homeowner will have their sprinkler system blown out and shut off in October, substantially cutting the amount of water to the plant. When Mother Nature doesn’t provide natural irrigation, caretakers must provide water to the root zone to prevent damage.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT WINTER BURN?
Prevention is KEY! In Boise, we can expect to have a dry and mild winter where we go weeks without an ounce of precipitation. Proactive plant owners will have us come out in December and January to spray an Anti-Desiccation treatment. This waxy-like material is applied to the needles and will slow down moisture loss from wind and transpiration. In addition to the spray, we recommend all conifer and evergreen plants receive irrigation about once a month. This can be a challenge for homeowners if the ground is frozen. At TerraVita, we do this by using a high-pressure pumping system and root injector to break through frozen ground and apply material directly to the root zone.
Contact Us or use your customer portal to schedule and discuss these services.
What is Transpiration in Plants?
Transpiration in plants is the exhalation of water vapor through the stomata.
Plants lose more than 90% of their water through transpiration.
Which Trees Are Susceptible to Winter Burn?
Most evergreens are susceptible to winter burn. Some examples include:
- Deodar
- Atlas Cedar
- Blue Spruce
- Alberta Spruce
- Laurel