Broadleaf evergreens, recently installed plants and trees and shrubs growing in containers are prone to damage from drying out (desiccation) in the winter. To prevent plant damage from desiccation, complete the following tasks on warmer days:
- Check on your plants when the temperatures rise above 40 degrees and thoroughly water them if they are dry.
- When the temperature is above 45 degrees, apply an anti-desiccant to azaleas, rhododendrons, hollies and other broad-leafed evergreens that are especially prone to drying out.
January and February are the best months for pruning many deciduous trees and shrubs and fruit trees. When removing branches, take care to avoid injuring the branch collar.
Extremely cold temperatures can injure or kill even cold hardy plants if they are growing in containers since their roots are not protected from the cold by the ground. To prevent cold damage in your container trees and shrubs, wrap your containers with an insulating material, such as bubble wrap or burlap, move them into a garage or against the house, or place unopened bags of mulch around them.
