OMAFRA Advises Homeowners: Don’t Give Up on Winter Damaged Evergreens

The long, cold winter we’ve experienced has resulted in more damage to evergreens than usual. Young evergreens were especially susceptible. As the Ontario Ministry of Food and Agriculture (OMAFRA) explained in its recent bulletin, drying winds and warm, sunny days in late winter caused foliage to lose water. Because the ground was frozen, the roots could not replenish lost water from the foliage and the foliage dried out, becoming brown. Usually, you will see most damage on the south or west side of the plant. But don’t remove the plant yet! As long as the buds are not damaged, the new growth may well hide most of the damage.