Using an anti desiccant on your evergreens

Why use an anti desiccant ?   Evergreen plants keep their leaves during the winter months as an evolutionary advantage to a faster startup in spring. This includes the broadleaf evergreens like Rhododendron, needled evergreens like pines, and scale-leaf evergreens like juniper and cedars.   Rhododendron   Pine needle   Juniper .

Needled evergreens adapted to high mountain top winds during their evolutionary path. Hence why we rarely treat them with an anti desiccant.

Broad leaf evergreens however did not adapt to cold dry winter winds and these are the ones most affected. The also have a larger leaf surface. As air passes over leaves, it pulls moisture out slowly drying them. Unfortunately, the leaves are subject to extreme dehydration. We call this condition “winter burn”.

Over the course of winter, many of these leaves are dehydrated to the point they can not recover. The windier the spot (rooftop) the higher the risk for damage. We always spray these every year as part of our winterizing visit.

Plant Specialists uses an organic pine resin based anti desiccant to help retain moisture in evergreens. Once applied, it seals in moisture reducing water loss to a minimum. The resin film decomposes naturally under the sun’s light and needs to be re applied once more about 2 months after the first.

Applications can only begin once dormancy is established (usually mid December in NYC) and only if the temperatures are going to be over freezing. The resin has to dry on the leaf – not freeze on it. A rainy day is not a good choice either !

Not sure ? – Call us – we can help  !

PLANT SPECIALISTS
GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBA

All photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK