Anti-Desiccants: Your Landscape’s Winter Shield

As the weather cools, your evergreens and broadleaf plants need a little extra protection to make it through the winter looking their best. That’s where anti-desiccants come in (kind of like moisturizer for your plants)!

Even in winter, plants continue to lose water through their leaves. When the ground is frozen, roots can’t replace it, which can lead to winter burn — those brown, dry patches you sometimes see in spring.

Anti-desiccant sprays create a light, protective coating on foliage that locks in moisture while still allowing plants to breathe. It’s especially helpful for:

• Boxwoods, hollies, and rhododendrons

• Newly planted evergreens

• Exposed areas that get a lot of wind

Timing is everything. We apply anti-desiccants in late fall, when plants are going dormant – they’ve stopped actively growing but aren’t fully in winter rest. Applying too early or too late can affect how well the coating works. By spraying at the right time, we help plants stay healthy without interfering with dormancy.

Client Tip: Watch for early signs of winter burn (browning tips or curled leaves). If you see this, give us a call. A timely anti-desiccant application can save your plants from unnecessary stress.