Winter Landscape Damage in Maryland

DSC03712The severe winter has brought damage to landscapes that we’ve not seen in a great many years.  Some plants that have been very winter hardy here may appear to be dead or very heavily damaged.  Some will recover later if the damaged/dead plant parts are trimmed off.  I recommend delaying wholesale cutting off of winter burnt foliage until the temperatures remain above freezing.  Even the unsightly brown/dead foliage serves to shield ...

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Salt Damage to Landscape Plants

DSC03718The quantities of salt applied to area roadways and sidewalks during the winter of 2013-2014 was among the most in decades, given the long cold, icy,and snowy periods, which ran relentlessly from November through March.  While the repeat or heavy salt applications certainly enabled us to traverse our roads more safely, the damage to plants and turf grass is a most unfortunate byproduct.   Clearly turf grass adjacent to roadways ...

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Protecting Plants in Winter

Weather patterns have been variable in recent years, to say the least.  After two relatively mild winters, the winter of 2013-2014 has started out more winter-like than has been customary.  The previous few winters have been characterized by fluctuating winter temperatures, such as long warm periods followed by sudden deep chills, and these conditions are very detrimental to many plants.  This pattern last winter ...

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