Unlike deciduous trees and shrubs, evergreens have a continuous need for water during fall and winter.

When the ground dries out or freezes, the roots of evergreens can no longer supply water to the leaves or needles and they can begin to die. This results in a condition called winter burn or winter desiccation.

All evergreens can suffer from this condition. Evergreens exposed to winter sun and wind will have more injury than those in shaded, sheltered locations. Both wind and sun accelerate water loss from evergreens.

There are several steps you can take to help your evergreens avoid winter burn. First, keep watering them until the ground freezes. This ensures they have adequate water available in the soil for as long as possible. This is especially important if it has been a dry fall.

Water in the afternoon when the temperature is above freezing to allow the water to soak into the soil before it freezes overnight. One deep watering of the evergreen is better than several shallow waterings. If your evergreens are not too big, you can construct a windbreak to help protect them.

The windbreak, if on the south and west side of the evergreen, also can provide some protection from the sun. The windbreaks do not have to be permanent; a temporary screen of burlap or similar material will work.

Also, a little fall mulch will help. A 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded mulch over the root zone of an evergreen will keep the roots moist and the soil unfrozen for longer than just bare ground. If possible, plant new evergreens so they are out of the winter sun and wind.

There are some products, antidesiccants, available that can provide some protection against winter burn. However, application timing for these products is tricky and they need to be reapplied frequently. A Virginia Tech fact sheet says these products are of limited value to homeowners.

Most people won’t notice the winter burn damage until the spring when they see the brown, dead looking areas on their evergreens. But don’t give up on the plant yet. Depending upon the amount of damage, most winter burned plants can recover in time.

If just the leaves or needles are dead, the plant will eventually grow new ones. If a stem(s) has been killed, it will have to be pruned out. To tell if the stem is still alive, gently scratch the bark and look for green under the bark. Green means the stem is probably alright. Give the damaged evergreen some fertilizer and with continued care, it should recover.

For more information, visit https://go.osu.edu/latefallwater.