"Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius." -Pietro Aretino
The winter chill can do a number on your favorite yard friends. It is important to distinguish what is "normal" wintertime attire and what is "damage." Evergreen trees and shrubs tend to take a beating with the cold--more so than deciduous (plants that lose all their leaves in winter) ones. Some hold up relatively well while others always seem to take on a rather questionable appearance.
Normal Evergreen Behavior
- Coppery coloring
- Reddish coloring
- Spotty coloring
- Some leaf loss
- Some breakage from winter storms
Abnormal Evergreen Behavior
- Breaking of branches
- Leaves or needles falling off, leaving barrenness
- Brittle branches