Anti-Desiccants…Necessary For Plants In New York?

Posted on October 26, 2009 with No Comments

Creative Commons License photo credit: OregonDOT

As winter creeps up on us here in New York, there are many different things that as homeowners we have to and should do to maintain the plant life on our property.  In recent times the spraying of antidesiccants on shrubs, evergreens, and some broadleaf plant life has really caught on to the general public.  What happens in the winter time is that plant life will tend to dry out because of the lack of moisture and the cold.  Antidesiccants help plant life by sealing the plant’s stomata (a plants sweat pores) therefore creating a waterproof sealant.  Antidesiccants  are sprayed on your plants and trees creating almost a waxy covering that sticks to the leaves and needles and locks in moisture for a healthier winter season.

The process of applying antidesiccants to your plant life is actually quite simple.  Our technictions will spray the waxy coating on your choice of evergreens, shrubs and as well as plants.  The spray is at first a white waxy-like substance but after just a short time it dries and becomes clear.  Some use antideiccants right before gathering cuttings from the flowers.  Spray about an hour before hand then cut, this will lock in moisture and it tends to root surprisingly well afterwards.  Others actually use the spray more often than others, spraying antidesiccants once a season or so.  The growth on your trees, especially broadleaf evergreens, will be more apparent in the spring.

JP McHale Pest Management’s Tree and Turf Department offers an anti-desiccant tree and shrub service. Please visit our Tree and Turf Department’s page or contact us now for a free evaluation of your property.