It has been very dry over the past several months.  Therefore it is critical that all landscape plants, particularly recently planted evergreens, are well watered if the recent snowfall fails to stick and temperatures rebound above freezing.

Water freezes at 32 degrees, providing a wonderful layer of insulation to the root systems of plants. Unfortunately, moisture in the form or rain or snow has been unpredictable this past fall and winter in Minnesota. While people may be enjoying the above average temperatures and sunny blue skies this winter, plants hate it. Absent adequate moisture, the drying effect of the winter sun creates an environment very detrimental to plant health.

In general, many homeowners tend to overwater their landscape during the growing season and they tend to underwater their landscape during the late fall. Most years fall rains and winter snow provide the necessary moisture  and insulation. So far this season, that has not been the case. The effect of lack of moisture can be burned foliage on evergreens or dieback on branches on deciduous plants in the spring. In the most severe cases, especially on evergreens, it results in plant death. Those plants that are showing swelled buds, there is nothing you can do. We may see some damage this spring, but won't really know what damage until well into early June. Leaves may be smaller, and the overall vigor could be compromised, but most will bounce back. Plants are very resilient and I believe most will make it. 

We ask you to please water all of your evergreens and to water any deciduous plants that have been installed in the past couple of years. Focus particularly on newly planted evergreens. We understand that it is a burden to do so at a time.  The simplest way to accomplish the task is typically to get out your garden hose and let it soak the area around the plants.  Water during the day when the temperature is above freezing, and drain the hose before the temperatures fall below freezing at night. If your plants aren't mulched very heavily or not at all please mulch them with 5-6" of bark, marsh hay or straw.  

Please let us know if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to be of service.  Thank you very much for your attention to this.