If you are thinking that you have more winter damage on your plants in 2022, you are not alone. We are finding that there has been a lot more winter damage than usual in most local gardens. Plants that have been especially hard hit are usually evergreens such as Yew, Boxwood, Cotoneaster and Lavender.

Unfortunately, this type of damage is due to winter weather, especially drying winds, so there is not much we can do to prevent it, other than protecting plants with burlap or other wind barriers. By now, dead stems will be very evident, so trim back to green growth or let the new foliage cover the dead and keep plants well cared for with adequate water so that they can go into next winter as stress free as possible.

Winter damage on Yews is often caused by drying winds