As we get closer to the month of March and Spring it is important to keep an eye on our landscape plantings. March is famous for it’s winds which can dry plants leaves. March can also be as cold as the middle of winter. Add to that a strengthening sun and there is a recipe for serious scorch to your ornamental plants. Evergreens, especially broad-leaf evergreens, are particularly at risk.
The levels of damage to your plants can vary from one side of town to the next, but also from one side of your yard to the other. There are many things you can do to help your plants through these times.
- Wrapping the plants is a great way to protect them. However winter interest/ beauty should be a big part of your landscape. Most of us spend our free winter time at home looking out at our yard and dreaming of spring. It is much more pleasant to see an interesting and pretty plant sticking through the snow than burlap wrap. Another more aesthetically pretty way to wrap your plants is with evergreen bows. The bows do a great job of protection as well.
- A less visually obtrusive process in protecting our plants is to spray the plants with anti-desiccant. Anti-desiccant sprays cover the leaves/ needles with a thin coat wax, thus not allowing the plants to aspire so much moisture. This leaves the plants in their natural state, allowing us to enjoy the full benefit or their beauty. As with most things in the landscape (natural world) the process is not perfect. Applying the anti-desiccant will need to be repeated (at least) monthly in order for it to be effective. And with that said, it is still not quite as effective as wrapping the plants.
We spend much time focusing on our landcape in the warmer months. It is intelligent to think of them in the winter as well. Even if you leave your home for warmer weather, the benefit from protecting your plants from the winters harsh winds and drying effects will pay divedends in the spring when your plants will stand a better chance of starting the season lush and green and many unprotected plants will be wilted, brown and in distress.
Princeton Scapes has a full service landscape maintenance department that works in conjunction with our clients to make sure that they maximize their value while enjoying their properties.
Winter is beautiful, Spring is close and we are ready to get to work caring for your landscapes!