What is Winter Desiccation?

Desiccation = plants becoming too dry during the winter

Winter desiccation, also known as winter burn or needle desiccation, is an injury that occurs to evergreen plants when water transpires or is lost faster than the plant can absorb through its roots. In other words – your tree becomes overly dry during the winter months, causing permanent harm to the tree. Colorado’s Front Range frequently has long, cold, dry days with high winds that can lead to winter desiccation. Our frequent freeze and thaw cycles can also cause winter desiccation.

What does winter desiccation look like?
Symptoms appear differently depending on what plant is affected. Broadleaf evergreens will have leaf scorch or extensive browning, while needled evergreens will have brown tipped or half brown needles. These symptoms can mimic root damage from deicing salts, so if your evergreen is near a sidewalk or road, you may want to see what deicer, if any, is being used on them.

What plants are susceptible to winter desiccation?
Both broadleaf and needled evergreen plants are susceptible to winter desiccation due to maintaining their foliage throughout the winter season. Newly planted or transplanted evergreens or those that are planted in unprotected, sunny spots in the garden have the greatest potential for desiccation.

How can I prevent winter burn/winter desiccation?
Winter desiccation most frequently occurs when precipitation is low and plants are not receiving enough supplemental water*. Providing your landscape with enough water, especially during winter dry spells, can help prevent desiccation. Try to plant new evergreens in more protected spots in your landscape to help mitigate potential damage.

Further prevention can be done by using anti-desiccant sprays, a protective film applied to the plant to reduce the rate of transpiration. These sprays will help reduce moisture loss from the evergreen which will help reduce the chance of damage to the plant. Be aware that not every evergreen can be sprayed with anti-desiccants, and it is a preventative, not a cure. Excessively cold temperatures or extremely harsh winters can still cause winter desiccation even with prevention. Our team at Bailey Tree is dedicated to helping your landscape and trees look the best they can. From winter watering to anti-desiccation sprays, feel free to contact Bailey Tree’s team of ISA certified arborists to provide you with a free estimate to help keep your plants happy and healthy.

*For more information on winter watering, please visit Bailey Tree’s page dedicated to this topic via this link.