Garden Tip 174:

Late November, early December is the time to apply anti-desiccants to trees and shrubs. Plants are dormant now, and excess moisture has moved from the growing area down to the roots for the winter season.

Anti-desiccants are sprayable protective coatings that lock in moisture during the winter. This coating helps to prevent winter desiccation, a situation where moisture is transpired through the leaves and stems more quickly than it can be absorbed through the roots. Protective spraying should be especially considered this year because of the warm and very dry fall weather.

New plantings and any plants in exposed, windy locations are all candidates for anti-desiccant protection. Sprays should be applied when temperatures are above 40 degrees and the weather is dry. On evergreens, it is important to spray both the upper and lower leaf surface.

Not only for evergreens, these sprays can be used to protect buds on favorite flowering shrubs such as rose bushes and hydrangeas. It is important to note that anti-desiccant sprays should not be used on waxy blue conifers such as blue spruce. These plants already have a natural coating that can be damaged by anti-desiccant sprays.