What is Winter Injury?

Winter injury is common on broad-leaved evergreens such as rhododendrons, laurels, hollies, pines, spruces and firs. Symptoms include browning on the outer leaf margin, brown needles, and brittle twigs.

Evergreen plants are constantly transpiring (losing moisture through the stomates in the leaf) throughout the year. In winter it is hard for a plant to replace moisture loss since the water in the ground is frozen. As a result tissue damage occurs. This condition is made worse when winds and sunny days increase the moisture loss.

Ornamentals can be prepared for this by watering late into the fall and applying anti-desiccant treatments to the foliage.