Learn / Ask The Landscape Professional
I'm starting to see some brown color on my evergreens. Are they beginning to die?
Answer
What you are starting to notice is called "desiccation"
and is commonly referred to as winter
damage. The browning will actually get worse as
spring approaches. Basically the plant is "drying
out" as more water leaves the plant through the
foliage than it takes in through its roots. The
problem can start in the fall if it is particularly dry
and a plant's root system is lacking sufficient water.
All year, plants normally loose water through its
leaves through a process called "transpiration".
In winter, if the ground is frozen deeper than the
plants root system, the plant's water supply is cut
off. As winds increase, the transpiration loss of
the plant increases and damage to the plant can occur. Brown, dead-looking foliage on the
side of the plant facing the wind is where the damage appears. Especially susceptible are
evergreens like Pine, Holly, Spruce, Fir, Juniper and Arborvitae. This is also referred to as
"winter burn" or "winter scorch".
Proper watering is very important in the fall to help prevent this type of damage now. If
there hasn't been sufficient rain in the fall, give the plant, especially evergreens, a deep
soaking before the ground freezes. Even now, watering during warm days in February and
March when the ground is not frozen will be very helpful. Also, it's not too late to erect
windbreaks made out of burlap (or similar material- but not plastic) around your evergreens
if they are small enough. If you find you have to do this each year, you should get in touch
with me and I can suggest a heartier choice for that spot in your garden.
Other than watering, don't take any other action now and certainly do not prune too soon.
Wait until you see new growth in the spring before you prune out the dead by cutting back
to 1/4" of a live bud. If the branch is dead in the spring, it's dead. It's not going to come back
and if you don't remove it, insects will be on their way.
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About Linda Lillie
Linda K. Lillie is the President of Sprigs & Twigs, Inc, the premier
landscape design and maintenance, tree care, lawn care, stonework, and carpentry
service provider in southeastern Connecticut since 1997. She is a graduate of
Connecticut College in Botany, a Connecticut Master Gardener and a national
award winning landscape designer for her landscape design and landscape installation work.
