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RTEC Treecare

Expert Tree Care in the DC Metro Area | Call 703-573-3029 to talk to a Tree Care Expert.

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Are Your Evergreen Shrubs (Azaleas, Boxwoods, etc.) Turning Brown/Yellow?

Resources: Seasonal Tree Care, Tree Problems

Many homeowners that didn’t protect their Evergreens with Anti-Desiccants this winter are starting to see the signs of Winter Burn. Our Arborists report seeing a lot of shrubs around the DC Metro area suffering from winter burn and getting a lot of calls from clients that are experiencing winter burn on their shrubs.

Susceptible Species:  Winter burn is commonly seen on Boxwoods and Azaleas in our area; however, hollies, rhododendrons, cherry laurels, and aucuba are all prone to winter burn as well.

What Is Winter Burn:

Trees and shrubs lose moisture through their pores which are located on their leaves/needles. During the winter months, the dry air and wind accelerate this process leading to leaves increasing their water demand from the roots in order to survive. However, the root system usually has a hard time keeping up with the leaves’ demands. The result: leaves and needles turning brown and dying. This cycle is called winter burn, or desiccation and is mostly likely what caused your boxwoods/azalea to turn brown or yellowish this winter/early spring.

Besides the unappealing aesthetics, your tree will also be more susceptible to insects and diseases this spring/summer because it is already stressed from the winter burn.


Need Help With Winter Burn Damage?

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Or Call 703.573.3029


Can I Fix Winter Burn Damage?

Although you can’t bring back dead or desiccated foliage you can promote healthy new foliage that will make your shrubs look better and mask the desiccated foliage. The best way to promote healthy new foliage is to give your shrubs the nutrients they need.

Bio-Stimulants: Bio-stimulants are a natural blend of sugars, bacteria, humic acid, sea kelp extract, and fungi. By introducing this blend to the critical root zone you will promote root and foliage growth. Bio-stimulants will also promote greener leaves (making it easier to hid the desiccated foliage) and improve the plant’s resistance to diseases, insects, and environmental stressors.

Proper Watering: In order for your shrubs to grow thriving new foliage and combat the stress they incurred over the winter you need to make sure they get enough water this spring and summer. Follow our watering tips below to ensure your shrubs gets the water they need.

WATERING TIPS FOR SUMMER:
  • Focus on the critical root zone when watering. Wetting foliage is a waste of water and can promote the spread of diseases.
  • DON’T use a sprinkler.This only wets the top layer of soil and doesn’t properly water the tree.
  • Water in the morning to avoid evaporation and to help trees deal with the heat throughout the day.
  • Water deeply and thoroughly1 to 2 times a week.
    • Put your normal hose somewhere in the critical root zone.
    • Turn hose on to a dribble
    • Leave for 2-3 hours
    • Move the hose to a different spot in the critical root zone and leave for 2-3 hours. Repeat this step 1-3 times.
  • You want the soil to be moist but not soaking. You should NOT be able to make a mud ball out of the soil.
  • It’s okay for some portions of the soil to be wet and some to be dry.

Learn More About Proper Watering


Prevent Winter Burn Next Year:

Winter BurnYou can prevent your Boxwoods and Azaleas from getting winter burn in the first place by treating them with 1-2 Anti-Desiccant treatment in late fall/early winter. Anti-desiccants coat the upper and lower foliage in a protective wax coating reducing the moisture lost through the leaves. Similar to the moisturizers, lotions, and humidifiers we use to keep our skin hydrated in the winter, anti-desiccants provide trees & shrubs with the protection they need to flourish during winter instead of fighting to survive. On an aesthetic note, this means no more brown and dying evergreens! But the benefits don’t stop there; protection from anti-desiccants also lead to improved overall health.

BENEFITS OF ANTI-DESICCANTS INCLUDE: 

  • Protection from winter burn: Leaves turning brown and dying.
  • Protection from drought stress
  • Protection from leaf scorch
  • Helps trees suffering from root system issues
  • Makes trees look brighter and shinier/Adds a polished look to your landscape.
  • Protects from de-icing salt damage
  • It’s Eco-Friendly (100% Organic & Biodegradable)

Learn More About Anti-Desiccants

Next Steps

If you have a Canopy Protection Plan with Anti-Dessicants proposed just approve you program here and RTEC will make sure they avoid winter burn next year!

If you have evergreens but no Anti-Dessicants on your Canopy Protection Program call our office at 703.573.3029 or email us at info@RTECtreecare.com to inquire about adding it to your program. 

Want an arborist to take a look at your evergreens and talk about winter burn? Schedule an appointment to meet with one of our Certified Arborists. 

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Find a Certified Arborist in Your Area!

Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

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Falls Church, VA 22042

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