Avoid Winter Damage to Your Holly

Hollies , especiallyevergreen multifariousness , can often be damaged by extreme winter weather . Here are a few tips for heading off some of the most common problems .

1. Siting makes a difference

When the ground is frosty , drying current of air and rough winter sun can cause leaves to lose piss faster than the plant ’s roots take it up . The resulting tissue equipment casualty is known as winter suntan . Siting an evergreen plant in a localization that is shelter from good afternoon Lord’s Day and prevailing winter winds may be enough to forestall the tough damage .

2. Create some shelter

If a flora is in an disclose spot , drive post around the dripline and wrap gunny or canvas around the exterior of the stakes , result the top out-of-doors . This irregular winter body structure will play as a shelterbelt and sunscreen while still allowing for tidy aura circulation around the plant life .

Burlap cover . photograph : good manners of Missouri Botanical Garden

Ice buildup . Photo : courtesy of Jim Resch

3. Water and mulch with care

Young and old plants likewise will appreciate a bass hebdomadary lacrimation until the undercoat is frozen or covered by C. P. Snow . A 2- to 3 - inch stratum of wood chips or bark mulch over the root zone will help conserve soil wet , but be sure to keep the mulch at least a few column inch away from the base of the plant to discourage rodents from girdling the torso and lower branches .

4. Watch out for heavy snow

To prevent a buildup of snow from splaying or breaking branches , gently brush or shake C off as it pile up . If sparkler build up up , however , it is best not to handle the plant , as this is probable to cause further impairment .

More on hollies

Jim Resch , Ph.D. , chair of the Research and Development Committee of the Holly Society of America , grows and evaluate new holly cultivar . Mary Tipping is the conservator and plant life recorder at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College in Swarthmore , Pennsylvania .

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