Winter Protection for Your Shrubs

When winter hits in Greenwich, CT, your boxwoods and other evergreen shrubs face some serious stress. Heavy, wet snow, harsh winds, and road salt can all damage foliage and snap branches. One of the best ways to protect these plants is burlapping—a simple, time-tested method of wrapping shrubs in breathable burlap to shield them from winter weather.

If you’ve ever wondered why people wrap their shrubs in burlap or whether you should be doing it on your property, this guide is for you.

---

What Is Burlapping?

Burlapping is the process of covering shrubs—most commonly boxwoods, arborvitae, and other evergreens—with a breathable burlap fabric for the winter. The goal isn’t to “keep them warm” like a coat, but to:

• Reduce wind burn and moisture loss
• Protect against heavy snow and ice
• Shield shrubs from salt spray along driveways, roads, and walkways

Done properly, burlapping helps your shrubs come through winter healthier, fuller, and with less dieback.

---

Why Boxwoods Need Extra Protection in Winter

Boxwoods are a staple in Greenwich landscapes—formal hedges, foundation plantings, and borders. But they’re also prone to winter damage, especially in exposed areas.

1. Wind Burn & Desiccation

Cold winter winds pull moisture from the leaves faster than the roots can replace it (especially when the ground is frozen). This causes:

• Brown, bronzed, or bleached foliage in late winter/early spring
• Thinning at the top and windward side of the shrub

Burlap acts like a wind break, reducing this constant moisture loss.

2. Heavy Snow & Ice Breaking Branches

Nor’easters and wet, heavy snow can weigh down boxwood branches until they bend, crack, or snap. Once branches break, the shrub loses its shape and density.

A properly installed burlap wrap or burlap screen helps hold the shrub together and keeps snow from sitting directly on the foliage.

3. Salt Damage

Along driveways, streets, and walkways, road salt and de-icing products can splash or drift onto shrubs. For boxwoods, that can mean:

• Burned, yellowing leaves
• Dead patches on the side facing the road
• Long-term decline in plant health

A burlap barrier is an effective shield, catching much of the salt before it hits the foliage.

---

When to Burlap Shrubs in Connecticut

Timing matters. In Greenwich and the surrounding Fairfield County area, a good rule of thumb is:

• Late November to early December
• After fall cleanups and leaf removal are complete
• Before the first major snowstorm or deep freeze

You don’t want to burlap too early when it’s still warm (this can trap excess moisture), but you also don’t want to wait until after the plants have already been damaged by the first storm.

---

Which Shrubs Benefit Most from Burlapping?

While we primarily burlap boxwoods for our clients, other plants benefit too—especially in exposed or roadside locations:

• Boxwoods (hedges, globes, and foundation shrubs)
• Young or narrow evergreens (like certain arborvitae)
• Broadleaf evergreens in windy or salty spots
• Shrubs close to driveways, roads, or walkways that get salted

If you’re not sure which shrubs should be protected, a quick walkthrough with a professional can help prioritize which plants are most at risk.

---

How to Burlap Boxwoods: Step-by-Step Basics

Here’s an educational overview of how professional burlapping is typically done. (For best results—and to avoid damaging your shrubs—it’s often worth having this done by a landscaping company.)

1. Install Stakes Around the Shrub
   • Place 3–4 wooden or metal stakes just outside the drip line of the boxwood.
   • The stakes should be taller than the shrub to help support snow load.
2. Attach Burlap to the Stakes
   • Start at one stake and roll the burlap fabric around the outside of the stakes, creating a “fence” or screen around the shrub.
   • Overlap burlap at the seams slightly so there are no big gaps facing the wind or road.
3. Secure the Burlap
   • Use staples, zip ties, or twine to fasten the burlap to the stakes.
   • Make sure it’s snug enough not to flap excessively in the wind, but not so tight that it presses heavily on the shrub.
4. Avoid Wrapping Too Tightly Around the Foliage
   • The best method is usually a burlap screen around the plant rather than mummy-wrapping it directly.
   • If you do wrap directly, keep it loose so air can still circulate and the branches aren’t crushed.
5. Check Throughout the Winter
   • After big storms or high winds, inspect the burlap and stakes.
   • Tighten, re-tie, or adjust as needed to keep everything secure until spring.
6. Remove Burlap in Early Spring
   • Once the threat of heavy snow has passed and the ground begins to thaw, remove the burlap.
   • Don’t leave it on too late into spring, as shrubs need light and airflow to flush out new growth.

---

Common Burlapping Mistakes to Avoid

To keep your boxwoods healthy, avoid these issues:

• Using plastic instead of burlap – Plastic can trap moisture and cause rot or mold. Always use breathable burlap.
• Wrapping too tightly – Compressing the branches can cause breakage and reduce airflow.
• Leaving burlap on too long in spring – This can slow new growth and trap humidity.
• Not staking in exposed areas – Without stakes, snow can still crush the shrub even if it’s wrapped.

---

Why Professional Burlapping Makes a Difference

Burlapping looks simple, but doing it correctly and safely—especially across multiple shrubs or large hedges—takes experience. A professional crew:

• Knows which plants truly need burlap (and which don’t)
• Uses the right materials and methods for your property’s conditions
• Installs stakes and wraps in a way that protects structure and shape
• Understands Greenwich’s winter patterns, salt exposure, and storm risks

For many homeowners, it’s a once-a-year job that’s easy to overlook—until a bad winter leaves boxwoods flattened, burned, or broken.

---

Protect Your Boxwoods This Winter with Pisano Landscaping

If you’re in Greenwich, CT and want to protect your boxwoods and shrubs from snow, salt, and winter wind, we can help. Our team has decades of local experience and offers professional burlapping as part of our winter protection services.

Contact Pisano Landscaping today to schedule burlapping for your boxwoods and keep your landscape looking its best—this winter and for years to come.