Parks, Recreation & Leisure

Parks, Recreation & Leisure / Parks & Forestry

Landscaping Tips

Evergreens Require Special Care in Winter

Don’t put away those gardening gloves and hoses just yet – before spring arrives you may need them. Even though your garden appears to be sleeping during these cold winter months, certain species might appreciate a little TLC. Everyone loves to use evergreens to brighten and somehow color the winter landscape, but did you know they often require different care and placement than most other plants?

By the time a new year gets underway, the majority of perennials are hiding underground and deciduous trees and shrubs have abandoned their leaves. Evergreens however are expected to not only hang onto their leaves but also, take the spotlight.

How much care is involved depends on the individual species and the quality of its growing environment. Evergreens are either needled like the traditional Christmas trees, or they are broadleaf like a boxwood or Rhododendron. In general, broadleaf evergreens require more year round care than needled evergreens.

With a little observation, you will notice changes in many evergreens over the course of winter. Boxwoods tend to turn an off-yellow or slightly brown. Many Junipers appear purple more so than green. This type of behavior is a natural reaction to the reduced amount of chlorophyll being produced in the winter months and is a means of survival.

Another example occurs during dry, sunny, windy and/or extremely cold periods, when many Rhododendron species will actually curl and drop their leaves as a result of water loss (desiccation). I don’t recommend wasting money on spray-on products to prevent this natural wilting or curling process. Simply put, the larger the leaf the more water will be lost during stressful periods. While it may seem silly to recommend watering given the ample rainfall and flooding so far this winter, knowing how fast things can change in Ohio, an occasional watering at the base of your broadleaf evergreens is not out of the question.

Many of our favorite broadleaf evergreens are in the Ericaceae family. Unfortunately they prefer soil conditions (moist, well-drained, acidic) that don’t naturally occur in Central Ohio, and amending the soil by tilling in several inches of compost and sphagnum peat moss prior to planting is the best recipe for success for these plants.

It is also beneficial to plant broadleaf evergreens in a more protected site, such as the north or east side of the house. Additionally, as temperatures warm and the soil thaws, watch your soil and plants for signs of dryness – it is during these times when your broadleaf evergreens will benefit from a winter watering.

Parks & Forestry Division
Parks & Recreation Department
City of Upper Arlington
3600 Tremont Road
Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Phone: 614-583-5340