Winter is nearly beyond us and it’s time to assess how the garden faired through the cold and snowy conditions. But the problem is, sometimes it’s difficult to tell whether a plant is experiencing wind burn or other stressors, or pests made an unwelcome mark. Today we will take a look at the mystery of winter damage to figure out how to remedy the situation.

Plant Heaving Problems

Abrupt freezing and thawing conditions, as many parts of the country experience this year, can push a plant out of the ground. While perennials are still dormant, this is a good time to examine the garden and see if any plants exhibit this characteristic. If so, dig around the plant and create space for it before setting it back into place and covering the roots, once again, with soil. Water it for good measure.

Identifying Winter Burn

Take a look at your evergreen trees and shrubs, including boxwoods and arborvitae, to see if there is any brown, dying tissue. This might be on the tips of the branches or it could be deeper within the shrub or tree. If there are many areas that look affected, scratch the main branch to see if it is still alive.

It’s best to wait until the tree or shrub show signs of life in the spring as there might be new buds that emerge from a branch that was affected, but not severely injured. This is also a good time to begin pruning out the dead sections for shrubs such as Arvida. Spruces and furs often times will push out old needles as new ones emerge, so it’s best to wait to see how much the tree will recover. Any pruning should be done in the spring or early summer.

Keep in mind, that one of the reasons trees and shrubs may succumb to Winterburn is because they are not taking up enough moisture ahead of time. We had a terribly dry autumn, and unless shrubs were well watered, they were more vulnerable to these drying conditions. When you plant evergreen trees and shrubs, Wander them approximately an inch per week during the summer. If wind is a typical issue, consider protecting them with burlap before winter arrives.

Winter Watering for Trees and Shrubs

Winter Damage at the Surface: Voles

One of the easiest ways to identify voles is by their tunnels going through the yard at surface level. During the winter this is all underneath the snow, but when it melts we can see the crisscross of movement.

Parallel grooves all around the base in the process of eating the roots. Not only do they damage the lawn, they can also chew on shrubs, roses, and perennials. This is where you have to become a bit of a forensics expert. Look for parallel grooves that are 1/8 of an inch wide or less around the base of the plant or the plant roots. This easiest way to eliminate them is to place snap traps in their tunnels.

What can I do to get ride of voles in the garden? University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Rabbits Do More than Nibble

When rabbits are involved, there is still considerable chewing at the bottom half of the shrub, but it is typically more than with a vole. It’s also higher on the plant. If there excessive gnawing strips most of the branches on a shrub, such as by viburnum or dogwood, it can absolutely affect growth. Cut the shrub down to the base and allow to grow back healthier. If it’s a tree that has been girdled all the way around, it can severely impact the health of the tree, reducing its life considerably. You want to baby the tree throughout the season and make sure it has adequate water to help it recover.

If rabbits are an issue in your area, you need to be proactive and wrap the trunks of trees and burlap or some other material. Or fence completely around it with chicken wire or some other materials that Will discourage rabbits.

Hungry Deer Add to Winter Damage

When winters are harsh, deer will resort to eating almost anything. We’ve had winters where they have decimated arborvitae, spruces, and truly anything that was within the reach. If you’re looking at raggedy shrubs the spring, do some restorative pruning to correct the shape, but don’t worry too much about making it perfect.

Once again, if it looks like the deer have honed in on some of your structural shrubs, you’ll need to protect them with burlap or some other sort of barrier to reduce the damage next year.

This is a good time for us to take a look at the gardens and assess the winter damage on your plants whether it was caused by weather or pests to give you enough time to help your plants before full spring arrives.