Anti-desiccant Spray for Evergreens. What Is It? Why Do It?

Save your landscape from winter burn this season with anti-desiccant spray for evergreens.  

Evergreens are a great way to maintain some vibrancy in your landscape during the winter months, but even some hardy evergreens will dry out and turn brown when the ground freezes. This is called desiccation or “winter burn.” Applying anti-desiccant spray for evergreens is an effective way to protect your evergreen investments from dehydration this winter season. 

Here we’ll explain what you should know about anti-desiccant spray treatments and why they might be the perfect thing to keep your landscape healthy this season. 

Get in touch to discuss tree care for your property! 

Call (914) 739-2020 or contact us online.

What are anti-desiccants? 

Anti-desiccants are surface sprays that protect your evergreens from excessive winter drying. Although evergreens are meant to remain green long past the typical growing season, drying is common for some evergreens in harsher climates. Desiccation occurs when a plant loses water faster than it can drink up more through its roots. Anti-desiccant sprays help slow this process by adding a protective waxy layer to evergreen foliage to slow moisture loss. 

Why you should spray your evergreens

Winter drying from ground freeze is common, but harsh winters also bring snow reflection, snow salt spray and harsh winds, all of which can further the effects of “winter burn.” The waxy layer left behind by anti-desiccant sprays protects against all of these environmental harms. It also looks beautiful and gives your evergreens a rich appearance that alternatives like burlap wrapping could never match.

 Evergreens are low-maintenance and a wonderful choice for Westchester County landscapes, but even evergreens need some extra care from time-to-time. 

Broadleaf evergreens like azalea, boxwood or rhododendron, conifers like cypress, juniper, and pine, and even shrubs like hydrangea are particularly susceptible to winter burn. If you’re lucky enough to have any of these beautiful shrubs in your yard, we highly recommend anti-desiccant spray for evergreens. 

When to spray your evergreens

The perfect time to treat evergreens to prevent desiccation is when the temperatures hover consistently around 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit. We generally recommend our Westchester County clients schedule this service for late fall or early winter. 

It’s important to wait until the ground and air have cooled down sufficiently that your plants have entered dormancy. This will help to avoid trapping too much water in the foliage which can then freeze and lead to injury. This is a relatively quick, easy service with major returns. 

Manzer’s anti-desiccant spray for evergreens

Your landscape is a living investment that deserves quality care. Take easy precautions to ensure your evergreens survive the freezing temperatures and winter storms this winter. Anti-desiccant treatment for evergreens offers a safe and efficient way to get your greenery through the worst of winter and our award-winning teams are here to help. 

Manzer’s Landscape Design and Development is your trusted partner for yard maintenance in Westchester County, NY. From design to installation, treatment to cleanup, we have you covered.

 Get in touch with our team today!

Call (914) 739-2020 or contact us online



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