What is Winter Burn? How to Prevent and Treat Winter Damage to Evergreen Shrubs and Trees

Evergreens are hardy plants that remain green and attractive even during the deepest depths of winter. However, even these tough guys can feel the effects of winter chill. The cold can leave evergreens looking bare and bedraggled, but unless the damage is substantial, cold injury in evergreens usually isn't deadly.

Winter burn can affect all kinds of evergreen shrubs and trees. Plants that have broadleaves, needles, and scale-like needles can all be damaged by winter burn. Luckily, there are some easy ways to treat and prevent winter burn damage to your evergreens.

Let’s dig in and learn more about what winter burn is, how to prevent it, and what to do if it has already occurred.

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What is Winter Burn?

Winter burn occurs when evergreens dry out during the winter. This happens when moisture evaporates through the leaves or needles and the roots are unable to absorb water from the frozen ground. This is most common when evergreens are exposed to cold winds and periods of warm, sunny days.

A winter-burned shrub displays dry leaves or needles that die and drop from the tree. However, the damage may not be apparent until the temperatures rise in spring, when growth turns reddish brown or yellow. Arborvitae, boxwood, holly, rhododendron, pine, spruce, yew, and juniper are just some of the common evergreens that can be damaged by this environmental problem.

Foliage browning begins on the tips of the branches and will move inward toward the center of the plant. Winter burn shows up on evergreens as brown to red dry foliage or needles. Some or all of the foliage may be affected, with areas on the sunny side most severely damaged. This is because the sun's rays intensify the photosynthetic activity and cause more water loss.

In some cases, the new terminal growth will die and buds may fall off plants, such as with camellias. Stressed plants, or those that were planted too late in the season, are especially susceptible. Evergreen winter damage is also most severe where plants are exposed to drying winds.

Winter Burn Prevention

Anti-transpirant sprays coat the evergreen foliage to reduce moisture loss that leads to winter burn. However, these sprays can damage evergreens that have scale-like foliage like arborvitae and juniper. Overall, anti-transpirant sprays can help, but they are not as effective as other methods of prevention.

Covering your evergreens with plant covers or frost blankets and mulching appropriately is a better way to protect your plants. Frost blankets can be found at Amazon or your local hardware store. Newly transplanted shrubs and trees are more susceptible to winter burn because their root system is not yet established. It is especially important to protect them before winter weather sets in.

Evergreens are more likely to withstand winter cold if the plants are well-watered throughout summer, fall, and early winter. Plants that suffer drought are weakened and more susceptible to damage. As a general rule, each evergreen should receive at least an inch (2.5 cm.) of water every week. Don't depend on a sprinkler to do the job. Use a soaker system or let a hose trickle at the base of the shrub so the water saturates the root zone.

If the ground thaws during the winter, use the opportunity to give the plant a good soaking. A 3 to 6 inch (8-15 cm.) layer of mulch spread around the base of the shrub helps protect the roots and conserve soil moisture. Extend the mulch out at least to the dripline, the point where water drips from the tips of the outermost branches.

You should also assess whether evergreens are suited to their location. If your evergreens get winter-burned year after year, you should consider transplanting them in a safer location or replace them with a deciduous plant.

How to Treat Winter Burn in Evergreens

First, when spring growth has begun, you should prune out any brown, dead foliage and branches. While you prune the evergreen, scratch a little bit of the branch to see if there is green tissue under the bark. If there is, then that branch will likely survive. If not, cut the damaged growth back to about 1/4 inch (6 mm.) above a live bud.

Once your evergreen is pruned and free from dead branches, the recovery work can begin. Fertilizing evergreens during their growth stage in spring and summer will help them bounce back from winter burn. An evergreen specific fertilizer like Espoma’s Evergreen-Tone is available at Amazon and garden centers. Their organic blend of nutrients and beneficial microbes will help your winter-burned evergreens recover and put out healthy new growth. Apply mulch around the base of your evergreens and water regularly to help them rehydrate effectively.

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