Newburyport Turf Company
Improving One Lawn At A Time
978-792-5597
Protect your Investment
Protect your Investment
Living in New England can bring on some challenges for a trees and plants in the cooler months. Listed below are a few simple ways to protect your landscape investment.
Anti-Desiccant Sprays
Anti-Desiccant Sprays
Our Anti- Desiccant will add an extra layer of protection to reduce damage caused by winter burn. Dry winter winds cause moisture loss which can’t be replaced because plants are dormant, and the ground is frozen. It’s especially important for evergreen shrubs.
WHY SHOULD I USE AN ANTI-DESICCANT?
Anti-desiccants are most often used to protect broadleaf evergreens from winter desiccation. Some broadleaf evergreens, such as rhododendrons, boxwoods, andromeda, hollies, and laurels, are particularly susceptible to winter injury from desiccation.
All shrubs transpire (or give off water vapor) from their leaves during the summer but because evergreens hold onto their leaves (or needles) all year, they lose moisture during the winter too. Dry winter conditions, warm days when the ground is still frozen and chilly winds can all “pull” moisture from foliage, leaving broadleaf shrubs and trees vulnerable to excessive moisture loss.
Normally, plants can replace the moisture that transpires from their leaves by drawing water up through the roots. But when the ground is frozen, moisture isn’t accessible. The end result is that the evergreen leaves shrivel up, turn brown, and die. In severe cases, the entire shrub can die from desiccation.
WHAT PLANTS AND TREES BENEFIT FROM ANTI-DESICCANT APPLICATIONS?
• Broadleaf evergreens, such as azalea, boxwood, holly, rhododendron, and laurel
• Conifers, including arborvitae, cedar, cypress, juniper, and pine.
Deer Repellent
Deer Repellent
Deer love to munch on arborvitae trees as much as we like to eat pizza. It is one of their absolute favorite plants to eat–and in winter, it’s one of the few things left.
DEER REPELLENT
Repellent sprays are typically a cost effective way of preventing deer from feeding on your trees. The most effective repellent is one that contains eggs since deer cannot stand the smell. If you would rather try a DIY repellent, a good one to try is to hang a bar of soap or a dryer sheet up high in the tree. The smell is rather pungent to deer, so they will go searching for food elsewhere.
Burlap Options
Burlap Options
Sometimes, a physical barrier is what it may take to protect your arborvitae trees from deer. The good thing about using a wrap around your trees is that once you wrap them, they are protected all season long! Netting, burlap or mesh can be purchased from your local hardware store that has a plant nursery. By wrapping your trees, there is no need for reapplying sprays or repellents. The only downside is aesthetics – you may not want to see your trees wrapped upwards of 8 feet high! If you do choose to wrap your trees, just be sure to remove the wrapping come spring so that your trees can breathe again. We would be more than happy to provide this service for your property.