You hear these terms – “the dead of winter” and “dead to the world”, but what do they really mean?  In most cases, they’re exaggerations or synonyms for other situations; in this case, really cold weather with no end in sight and really, really tired.

In the plant world, the question of “is this plant dead?” comes up quite frequently, especially in winter, and especially with broadleaf evergreens such as arborvitae, yews, holly, boxwood and Oregon hollygrape.

The most common cause of injury with these plants is desiccation.  To prevent it, apply an anti-desiccant product such as Wilt Pruf or Stop Wilt 2-3 times in winter.  Generally, the timing would be along the lines of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine’s Day or every 6 weeks in cold windy weather.

The keys to success with these applications are

1. Spraying on days when temperatures are above 38 degrees F so that the product can dry on the leaves before the temperature falls below freezing.
2. Coating both sides of the leaves to the point of runoff.
3. Cleaning out the sprayer thoroughly after use to prevent clogging of the lines. Simple soap and water clean-up is sufficient.

Screening with burlap or similar material to buffer the prevailing winds may also be appropriate, especially in open, fully exposed landscapes.

John Fech

Horticulture Extension Educator at Nebraska Extension

John Fech is a horticulturist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and certified arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture. The author of 2 books and over 200 popular and trade journal articles, he focuses his time on teaching effective landscape maintenance techniques, water conservation, diagnosing turf and ornamental problems and encouraging effective bilingual communication in the green industry. He works extensively with the media to extend the message of landscape sustainability, making over 100 television and radio appearances each year.