Winter Care Guide

TREES & SHRUBS

Winter is a great time for dormant pruning, thinning, shaping, and reducing the size of the plant. Take care when pruning. You should not remove more than 1⁄3 of the tree or shrubs original size. Otherwise you risk potentially stressing the plant

PERENNIALS

Cut back perennials in the fall by trimming off only the brown, dried flower stems, leaves, and stalks to a few inches above the soil and treat with an anti-desiccant spray. You can also mulch over your perennials to help insulate the root zone during the winter months, but this is not necessary. Please note: Some perennials are evergreen and do not die back. Do not trim back green plant material as this may kill the plant.

EVERGREENS

To protect evergreens from wind burn discoloration and browning, broadleaf evergreens can be sprayed with an anti-desiccant. Or place a burlap barrier on the South and South West sides of the tree. The barrier can be constructed using wooden posts, burlap, staple gun, and twine to create a screen. This will protect the evergreen from damaging winds that can burn the foliage. Please note: Anti - desiccant can cause discoloration on Colorado Spruce.

If your evergreens do have winter burn, wait until mid-spring to prune out the damaged foliage. The evergreen will likely produce growth where you have removed the damage.

PLOWING & SALT

It is recommended you mark pavement edges to help prevent damaging lawns and irrigation systems during snow plowing. You should carefully plan where snow can be pushed and piled to avoid damaging your landscape.

Although salt is naturally occurring and we try to use salt tolerant plants along pavement edges, excessive salt will kill lawn, trees, and plants. It is critical that salt applications are applied carefully and, when necessary, a physical barrier such as a burlap or silt fence be installed to keep salt off sensitive areas.