Wayne served as president of Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA), New England Nursery Association (NENA), and American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) which is based in Washington, DC.
Wayne is the horticultural consultant for GrowingWisdom.com with Dave Epstein.
Every year as I pass through residential neighborhoods, and some commercial areas, I notice the attention devoted to making sure the plants in the landscape are prepared for winter. Shrubs and trees are encircled by rope or fabric, branches are tied-up to each other, burlap wraps some bushes, and extra mulch has been mounded-up around root areas. Some shrubs are even tented with A-shaped frames, seemingly designed to protect them from wind or dangers from above.
As gratifying as it is to know that the owners of these properties care enough to devote extra resources to assure their plants survive winter, it always seems like so much extra work to me. And it doesn't always produce the most attractive results. In my opinion, this kind of extra maintenance should not be needed for any landscape. Trees and shrubs growing naturally in the wild seem to survive just fine without all the extra care. The same should be true in the landscapes we enjoy around our homes and workplaces. The key is to use the right plants in the proper locations, and make sure they are maintained correctly.
Properly sited, pruned and maintained, most trees and shrubs tolerate snow, ice and wind, and come through the winter looking fine. But if incorrectly maintained, or planted too close to a structure or grown into other plants, they can be susceptible to damage. We often see loose and lanky branches splayed open by heavy snow loads or ice from roof valleys. Winter-burned foliage on evergreen plants – large-leaf rhododendrons in full sun on the south side of the house, for example – is another common flaw. Usually the problem situations are the result of shortsighted planning when the landscape was installed, or lack of proper maintenance (like pruning to shapes that shed snow). As bad as they may appear, many problems can be resolved with relatively minor adjustments, either now or when warmer weather returns.
In the ideal situation the plants we utilize should be appropriately adapted to the conditions in their landscape location. Consider these factors that affect winter plant health when designing and installing a new landscape:
• Select trees and shrubs that are sufficiently hardy for the location
• Install at safe distances from mechanical hazards like traffic and accumulations of snow/ice from the side or above
• Take into account the expected size and shape after several years of growth
• Understand soil moisture, fertility, drainage
• Consider sun or shade tolerance, especially in winter
• Take into account your individual desire to nurture and prune the plant, and any other special situations that may apply.
Right now, if some of your landscape plants require extra care during winter, it's certainly important to protect them as best you can. But also take time this winter to identify those parts of your landscape that are causing problems. Bring your questions to the experts at your local garden center – they can share their knowledge and make helpful suggestions. Many overgrown plants can be moved to another location around your home that better suits their needs. Corrective pruning may resolve some situations. Some plants may be best replaced.
Choosing types of plants that can be expected to perform well under your conditions is certainly a good approach when you install new plantings. With the wide range of plants available, there's really no reason to do that extra work every winter to assure a good looking landscape. Investing some time now, combined with expert advice, will pay big dividends for a beautiful landscape with less work in future years.
