Winter Protection for Evergreens

Make this the fall you protect your evergreens before winter winds and snowloads cause your arborvitae to split and rhododendrons to wither.

Heavy snows and ice can pile on upright arborvitae, junipers and yew hedges causing them to split. They often recover in spring, but repeated damage will disfigure these plants. Use strips of cotton to loosely tie the multiple stems together so the snow rolls off the plant. Or wrap the whole shrub or hedge in bird netting. The netting blends in with the foliage so the plants are secure and still look good.

Broadleaf evergreens like rhododendrons and boxwoods benefit from protection from winter wind and sun. Create a windbreak and a bit of shade for those plants exposed to these harsh winter conditions.

And make sure to thoroughly water all your evergreens before the ground freezes and mulch the soil with shredded bark or woodchips to help insulate the roots.

A bit more information: Create an attractive winter shelter with one of the commercially available winterizing products or build your own. Use a bit of decorative fencing or a recycled Christmas tree to cast a bit of shade and block the wind. Plus, the tree windbreaks add greenery to the winter landscape and shelter for visiting birds.