Newly installed landscapes are especially vulnerable during their first winter. While mature plants have deep, established roots that help them withstand cold, wind, and fluctuating temperatures, young plantings need a little extra support. For green industry professionals, offering clients simple, clear winter-care guidance can make the difference between a thriving spring landscape and costly replacements.
Here’s a practical, eco-friendly guide to help protect newly installed landscapes through the winter months.
1. Watering: Don’t Stop Too Soon
One of the biggest winter-care mistakes happens before the ground freezes.
Why it matters:
New plants enter winter with limited root systems. Proper hydration helps them tolerate cold, prevents root desiccation, and reduces early-spring dieback.
Best practices:
- Continue watering until the ground freezes.
- Focus on deep, infrequent watering rather than quick surface soaking.
- Pay special attention to evergreens, which continue to lose moisture through their foliage all winter.
2. Mulching: Your First Line of Defense
Mulch is more than a finishing touch—it’s insulation for the root zone.
Benefits of winter mulching:
- Moderates soil temperature swings.
- Conserves moisture.
- Protects roots from frost heaving.
Tips for success:
- Apply 2–3 inches of organic mulch (shredded bark, leaves, wood chips).
- Keep mulch a few inches away from stems and trunks to prevent rot and rodent damage.
- For especially exposed beds, consider a late-fall top-off to ensure full coverage.
3. Protecting Evergreen Plants
Evergreens—both broadleaf and needle—are particularly susceptible to winter burn.
Protective strategies:
- Apply an anti-desiccant spray in late fall and again mid-winter (temperatures permitting).
- Use burlap screens to block prevailing winds for new hedges, shrubs, or plants in open areas.
- Avoid direct wrapping; instead, create a breathable barrier to reduce stress.
4. Managing Snow and Ice
Snow can be a protective blanket—but it can also be damaging if mismanaged.
Do:
- Gently brush snow off delicate branches with an upward motion.
- Use snow fencing near young evergreens in high-drift areas.
Avoid:
- Using salt-based deicers near beds or young plantings; runoff can cause root burn and stunting.
- Shaking ice-covered branches—this often causes breakage.
Eco-friendly alternatives include sand, calcium magnesium acetate, or kitty litter for traction.
5. Monitoring for Frost Heave
Newly installed plants are prone to “popping” out of the soil during freeze–thaw cycles.
What to watch for:
- Raised crowns or exposed roots.
- Soil lifted around the base of plants.
How to prevent and correct:
- Maintain consistent mulch coverage.
- Gently press lifted plants back into place on warmer days.
- Add soil and mulch as needed to stabilize roots.
6. Winter Pruning: Only When Necessary
While winter is the traditional pruning season, newly planted trees and shrubs should be treated with care.
Guidelines:
- Limit pruning to removing broken, diseased, or crossing branches.
- Save shaping or structural pruning for the plant’s second or third year.
- Never prune spring-blooming shrubs in winter unless absolutely necessary.
7. Wildlife Protection
New plantings can be a winter buffet for hungry wildlife.
Protective measures:
- Install tree guards or trunk wraps on young trees to prevent vole and rabbit damage.
- Use deer fencing or repellents for vulnerable shrubs, especially broadleaf evergreens.
- Remove nearby brush piles where rodents shelter.
8. Set Expectations With Clients
Winter care is often overlooked—especially by first-time landscape owners.
Client education tips:
- Provide a winter-care checklist as part of your installation package.
- Offer optional winter monitoring services for high-value plantings.
- Remind clients that winter losses are often preventable with simple proactive care.
Ready for Spring Success
Caring for newly installed landscapes during winter doesn’t require complicated techniques—just attention to moisture, protection, and monitoring. By helping clients understand the importance of winter care, green industry professionals can ensure healthier plants, fewer spring replacements, and long-term landscape success.