Master gardener offers winter weather tips to save your plants

Master gardener Brian Minter says rescuing plants from winter weather is all about timing and planning.

Trying to save small trees and garden plants that have been pummeled by ice and snow is a challenge for many British Columbians at this time of year.

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People want to get out and get the ice off right away, but you'll do more damage scraping it off then leaving it on, Minter told CBC's B.C. Almanac hostGloria Macarenko.

Minter's advice?

Wait.

And when the ice begins to melt, that's the time to spring into action.

"Try as quickly as you can to straighten branches because trees will stay in that shape," he says.

Minter also recommends using stakes to help plants recover and to prevent stem breakage.

According to Minter, some plants, such as rhododendrons, suffer from windburn but can look worse off than they truly are.

Minter suggests cutting damaged rhododendron leaves off to improve appearance, but notes that new growth will come in "just fine".

Prune properly

Other small trees might require more extensive pruning after weather damage.

"Where branches are gone, clean them up and cut them back," says Minter.

Don't be tempted to take too much off though.

For example, when pruning cedar hedges, Minter advises to stay within the green wood.

"If you prune too deep into the old brown, growth won't come back," he warns.

Proper pruning before a cold snap can also help protect small trees in bad weather.

"Get that good structure where limbs are put in a place where only small outside branches will break," explains Minter, who says that careful pruning can extend the life of trees by preventing damage and improving airflow.

Don't despair

And all is not lost if a small tree has succumbed to stormy weather and fallen over.

Minter recommends getting toppled trees back in the ground as soon as possible and pruning them back to remove excess top weight. Supporting the trunk with three stakes can give the tree the help it needs until the roots take hold.

Winter weather can be hard on plants, but with some advance pruning and a little patience, they will spring back in spring.

With files from B.C. Almanac

To hear the complete audio, click on the file labelled Winter gardening tips with Brian Minter.