Why are white pines and arborvitae losing their needles?
This is a completely natural process that happens every year. Each fall these plants shed their growth from two years ago. The plants shed the old growth to create room for new growth. • Why did some of my evergreens burn last winter? A: There is no real concrete answer to this question. Most horticulturalists believe it is a combination of winter sun and wind. During the past winter, there was snow on the ground for over three months. The sun reflecting on the plants will dry out evergreens. Combined with the strong winter winds, evergreens can become very dry. The past winter was preceded by a dry fall. So many evergreens were lacking the proper moisture levels heading into the winter months. The combination of dry weather, heavy snowfall, bright winter sun, and high winds can cause the foliage to turn brown and die back. • What plants are most susceptible to winter burning? A: Arborvitae, yews, boxwood, white pine, and Alberta spruce can all winter burn. Arborvitae usually will burn
