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Avoiding Branch Breakage continued
Tall upright evergreens such as cedars and junipers can be protected
from splitting apart under heavy snow by tying them up with
garden twine. Start by driving a stake (make sure it’s slightly
taller than the plant) into the ground beside it. Beginning
at the bottom, wind the twine around both the stake and the
shrub so that snow will not force branches downward.
Restraint may not be necessary if you keep the interior of upright evergreens free of their own detritus.
Yearly, gently smack small evergreens with a gloved hand – or larger ones with the flat side of a corn broom
– to dislodge dead needles that clog up inside branches. Regular spring-cleaning of this kind opens up the
trees’ insides so that air, light and moisture penetrate the plant canopy. A looser shrub allows snow to fall
through its branches, rather than accumulating on branch tips.
Protecting the Roots
Winter can wreak havoc with your trees and shrubs at their root level. As long as there is plenty of snow on
the ground, plants are well anchored. However, with inadequate snow cover, bare soil is subject to frequent
cycles of freezing and thawing throughout the winter months. Moist soil alternately expands and contracts around
plant roots, causing them to tear and even heave out of the ground.
Wood chips, shredded leaves or compost are some suitable winter mulches. Organic mulch won’t keep roots warm,
but it will preserve more even soil temperatures. In my experience, it’s not necessary to remove it in the
spring. It’s a good soil amendment as it breaks down and it preserves soil moisture and prevents wide temperature
fluctuations, which can bake, break or heave roots, depending on the season.
Where and how mulch is used matters. After improving the site’s soil according to the needs of the plants you
intend to grow, apply at least two to three inches of aged wood chips, compost, or shredded leaves on top of the
soil around the plant. The fluffier the mulch material, the thicker the layer can be, but if it’s too thick or
heavy, it may suffocate the plant. Leave a four-inch space between the mulch edge and the crown of the shrub or
the base of the tree trunk. Don’t let mulch touch plant bark – constant moisture here encourages stem rot. Extend
mulch out to at least the drip line, which is located at the perimeter of the plant’s branch extension. (This is
where most of the plant’s fine feeder roots are situated in the soil.)
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