Hedge Maintenance During BC’s Rainy Winter

While lots of wind and rain may seem unpleasant for us, most of our plantings have no problem with our rainy winters here on the Lower Mainland. In today’s blog article, we will talk about hedge maintenance during BC’s rainy weather. 

Pruning 

Try not to prune in the rain. Typically, we prune cedar hedges in the summer, anyway. The reason for this is that the rain and dampness can encourage the growth of fungi. When we prune, we want the hedge to heal where there have been cuts. So, it’s better to not to prune in the rain. If you need to prune in the winter, do it in clear weather, so the cut surfaces have a chance to heal. Also, do not prune in freezing temperatures when branches can snap off where you did not intend to make a cut. 

Rain 

If your cedar hedges are new and young, make sure they are getting enough water. If you are wondering about the roots, stick your hand in the soil. Normally, new plantings need to be watered about twice a week until the weather goes below freezing. Do not assume that your new shrubs got enough water from a daily mist. Only sustained heavy downpours will equate your manual waterings. 

Snow 

The only thing to watch for regarding snow is to brush off heavy snowfalls from the branches, especially in young shrubs. Our wet snow can be very heavy and damaging to a young hedge. Otherwise, feel free to pile snow at the base of your hedge. Snow is a good insulator and will not hurt the roots or base.   

Other than what is mentioned above, just leave your hedges alone. They will be fine, and, remember that Western Red Cedars are native to our area. They are perfectly happy in our wind and rain. 

For cedar hedging, give us a call on the Lower Mainland at (778) 241-5664. This is our business and area of expertise. 

Pacific West Cedars, based in Langley, British Columbia, farms, supplies, and installs cedar hedging on the Lower Mainland. They offer two kinds of cedars plus boxwoods: Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), and Emerald Cedars (Thuja occidentalis “Smaragd”). They work with landscapers, contractors, and also directly with the public. 

If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about cedars, we encourage you to call us at (778) 241-5664.