Caring for evergreen trees and shrubs in winter

Most garden plants go dormant in winter: they don't grow and they don't put out new shoots. So why water them? Because otherwise they die. Most plants don't actually die of frost in sub-zero temperatures – they dry out. This applies above all to evergreens, meaning plants that keep their leaves or needles.

Why evergreens dry out in winter

Deciduous trees and shrubs drastically reduce their need for water in winter by shedding their leaves. Evergreens, on the other hand, are still thirsty: especially in strong wind or sunshine, they lose moisture through their leaves. If the ground is frozen at the same time, the roots can no longer take up water – and the plants consequently die of thirst. The damage is therefore not caused by the cold itself, but by the interrupted water supply while evaporation continues.

Watering as the most effective countermeasure

The simplest and very effective countermeasure is to water trees and shrubs intensively in late autumn – before any signs of stress appear. This way, evergreens enter the frost period with a well-stocked water reserve and cope much better with spells of frozen ground.

Removing snow load from the branches

If too much snow settles on the branches, they can break. To prevent this, thick layers of snow should be carefully brushed or shaken off the branches.