Page 15 - February Newsletter

Frigid January: Expect Some Winter Plant InjuryBy: Ryan EngelWestern Kansas is a land of extremes. All types of plants growing in the area have to be pretty rugged and resilient to survive the unforgiving conditions of the prairie. Even some of the toughest plants, or plants known to be well adapted to the area, can occasionally experience damage caused by environmental conditions. Extreme weather events and poor planting decisions can contribute to winter plant injury in the landscape. Therefore, it is important to be able to identify winter plant injury and know of ways to prevent this form of plant damage.Both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs can experience winter injury or winter kill. Individual branches of the plant may be affected, and in extreme cases, entire plants can die from low temperatures. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to identify this damage until the following spring, when growth does not resume. Sudden temperature drops can be more damaging than steady declines, as plants may not yet be acclimated to the cold. Fluctuating weather can also cause certain plants to break dormancy, exposing them to damage when colder temperatures return. Evergreen plants are prone to something called winter desiccation, in which green, healthy needles become dried out. A needle-scorched appearance follows, beginning from the tips of the needles moving inwards towards the twigs. Diagnosing winter damage can be difficult, as symptoms are commonly not evident when the damage occurs. If a tree or shrub looked great going into the winter, and next spring has dieback in areas, winter injury is likely to blame.Plant selection is arguably one of the most important factors when it comes to mitigating plant damage caused by environmental conditions. One should always look for native or locally adapted alternatives when planting in the landscape. A plant that is marginally adapted to an area is much more likely to experience environmental damage. Not only is the species or variety you chose important, but also the location in the landscape where a plant is installed. Even a small plot of land likely has multiple microclimates, where characteristics such as soil, wind exposure, sunexposure, and temperature may vary slightly from other areas in thelandscape. A species prone to winter injury may benefit from being plantedon the southern side of some protection (structure/windbreak) to block someof the harsh north winter winds. Trees and shrubs should also be wateredthoroughly, but not excessively, in the fall before freezing weather sets in.Mulching can help prevent frost from penetrating deep into the soil anddamaging roots. Furthermore, trees should not be fertilized in late summer orfall to avoid producing succulent late-season growth that is more susceptibleto winter injury.Check out Golden Prairie’s Extension Page on Facebook!https://www.facebook.com/GoldenPrairieDistrictRyan Engelrpengel@ksu.edu Horticulture Extension Agent