What to do about winter damage?

We had a long rough winter and many of us have building and yard damage to prove it. 

After a severe winter you may see discolored leaves, burned evergreen needles or leaves, dead branches, heaved root systems, and broken limbs and branches.  The extent of winter damage can best be determined once spring growth is well underway.

This is the time of year to prune all dead twigs and branches back to within a quarter of an inch above a live bud.  Prune to remove badly damaged or broken branches, to shape the plant and stimulate growth.

An application of fertilizer to the soil around winter damaged plants, accompanied by adequate watering will usually help plants and shrubs to compensate for winter injuries.
If you have plants close to areas that were heavily treated with salt last winter, you may want to take a soil sample to the county extension service. They will test the soil and, if it is warranted, advise you how to improve and enrich growing conditions.   Start here: www.umass.edu/soiltest.

It is a good idea to flush the area around plants exposed to road salt.  Apply two inches of water over a 2-3 hour period and repeat 3 days later to leach most of the salt from the soil.  Foliage can also be rinsed with lots of water to wash away any remaining salt spray. For future planning, consider putting salt tolerant plantings close to the road.  Some examples are roses, red oak, junipers, white oak and Scotch pine.   

While you are in the yard, walk around your house and look for possible winter damage.  Check the roof, inspect the foundation, look for rot on wooden decks and stairs, check the soundness of the window frames.  Clean the gutters and air conditioners.