Written by Westchester Tree Life’s Jeff Gourion, Plant Healthcare Manager
Prevent “Winter Burn” with an anti-desiccant!
Winter Burn is the damage to our plants that we seem to notice every spring after the long cold winter starts to lose its grip, and we start paying attention to our trees and shrubs again. We notice that some of the leaves on our Hollies, Boxwoods and Rhododendrons and various other broad leaf evergreens turn brown or appear spotty and scorched. This condition closely resembles drought stress; that’s because that is exactly what winter burn is.
A closer look at damage due to “Winter Burn”.
What is an anti-desiccant?
An anti-desiccant spray is a bio-degradable acrylic coating.
What does an Anti-Desiccant do?
An anti-dessicant coats the leaf, especially the underside where the stomata are located, and lows the rate of transpiration. This coating protects the plant from harsh winter conditions.
Don’t leave your trees unprotected this winter!
Why is an anti-dessicant important?
This method of protection is highly effective in reducing
Winter Burn damage.
Which of my plants will an anti-desiccant protect?
- All broadleaf evergreen plants
- New plantlings
- Plants that are stressed from insect and disease damage
- Small leaf plants (Arborvitea, Boxwood, Ilex, Holly, Rhododendron, Skip Laurel)
How does winter harm my plants?
During winter, plants go dormant and shut down the normal growing process, however all plants will still transpire (give off water vapor and exchange gases) through the stomata (small pores on the under side of leaves) if conditions are right; an example of conditions are wind blowing across the surface of leaves; warm sunlight on a warmer than normal winter day is another. These conditions working together are the worst case scenario. While cold wind alone is hard on plants, wind on a relatively warm day is even worse! The soil is still frozen and any moisture that the plant would normally try to pull up from the roots is unavailable, making the outcome is almost exactly what happens in summer when you don’t water your plants.
We recommend that you consider calling us for a free evaluation and estimate today!
WESTCHESTER TREE LIFE- 914-238-0069
Ask for Jeff Gourion. Plant Healthcare Manager