How Long to Keep Wind Screens on Plants

Autumn

• Late autumn is the time to prepare your landscape plants for the harsh winter winds. Winter winds can dry out newer growth on woody plants and evergreens. As cold weather approaches, particularly after the ground becomes frozen, cover the new growth, or tops, of evergreens and young woody plants with loose fitting burlap. The burlap will protect the tender new growth from loosing too much moisture and drying out from winter winds. Where hard, severe winter winds occur that might bend or break plants, erect wind screens, either commercially made or use wooden boards, to protect your plants over the winter months.

Winter

• During the winter months, wind screens that are protecting your plants and have been put in place in late autumn, must remain in place. The wind screens will need to be checked both before and after high winds to ensure the protection is securely in place. Re-adjust winter wind screens for your plants, but do not remove them.

Spring

• After the dry winter winds have ceased and the temperature begins to warm, it is time to remove the burlap wraps from woody plants and evergreens. Take down any erected wind screens around these plants, too. But spring wind is a hazard to tender, young transplants in your vegetable garden and landscape. Hardening off transplants by gradually introducing the plants to the outdoor environment will help. After you have planted the young plants in the ground, they need to be protected from the wind for 2 to 3 weeks until roots are well established and foliage is stronger. Place plastic gallon milk jugs, with the bottoms cut out, over and around new transplants to protect them from the wind. After 2 to 3 weeks, or when the transplant begins to show new growth, remove the plastic jugs.

Summer

• Vegetables like tomatoes and peppers are susceptible to the hot, dry winds of summer which can dry foliage and stress the plant. Wire cages that are wrapped with perforated clear plastic placed around taller plants and vegetables will allow air and sun in but keep harmful dry winds from damaging the plant. These wind guards can remain around the plant throughout the growing season, or when the plant becomes too large.