As spring settles in, plants slowly emerge from the snow cover and we have a chance to assess their post-winter health. Based on what is observed, it is possible to determine their potential for the coming season. Damage or other signs that things are not entirely perfect are often apparent. It can be challenging to decipher the signs, but it can also be interesting to follow the clues.

The following are some examples of signs that you might come across, along with their likely associated cause, and some general ways of dealing with them.

Tunnels in the grass

Throughout the winter, under the piles and drifts of snow, it is hard to imagine that a complex superhighway of activity is underway. As the snow recedes, you can see that something has been moving freely around the plants. In some cases, this visual evidence will be the final link to be made between weak or damaged plants and the culprit.

What do you do about it?

There isn’t much that you can do to prevent tunneling under the piles of snow, but you can either try and keep the population down in advance, or make it harder for pests to get close to the plants that you care about. Population control comes through exposing the pests to the eyes and tummies of predators, mainly by keeping grasses and other covers mowed or cut to a lower height. If you have rows of plants, you can crush and compress the snow down on either side, by walking, snowshoeing, skiing or some other way. It is not a perfect plan, but it might help.

Missing bark

Sometimes we see that some critter has removed the bark entirely or in part from the base (or some higher level) of the plant. When the bark is shredded or removed from ground level upwards, we can tell that something was nibbling sheltered by the snow cover. In other cases, you can see damage that starts a foot or so from the ground, raising the question of how the perpetrator decided that that was the spot to eat. If you take into account the snow level, it becomes clear that Bugs, Flopsy or Cottontail took advantage of the snowbanks to have a munch on the lower bark at their height at the time.

What do you do about it?

Depending on the type of plant that has been damaged, and the nature of the pest, you might have to take a different approach. For single or multi-trunk trees and shrubs, a physical protective barrier would be recommended. Wrapping with chicken wire or a trunk wrap can help keep the critters from chewing. Keep in mind that some problems can come from below, so make sure that the barrier extends downward sufficiently.

If it makes sense, have a dog or other animal out and about to can scare off pests, either directly or with scent marking. It is not foolproof, but it might help.

Thin / weak plant stands

Even with extra protection, sometime our perennial plants can take a beating from Mother Nature. If the plants were a bit on the weak side going into winter, or if spring is harsh and/or wet, or if a pathogen has taken hold of the ground and the planting, we might see a deterioration in the overall stand health. This might show up as a thinner plant stand, with smaller plants, missing plants, or just unthrifty growth. Plants might be pale, discoloured, or dead plants will be observed.

What do you do about it?

The general recommendation for overcoming a weak stand in perennial crops is to provide a bit of TLC, in the form of extra nitrogen fertilizer, and taking any sort of corrective action to improve the situation. This might include fixing drainage issues, providing better protections (e.g. insulated cover, such as straw, etc. or shelterbelts). If things are too far gone, you may need to just pull the crop and start over after a break from that area. If you suspect a disease issue, you should figure out what the culprit is, so that you can see about a specific solution.

Winter haircuts

Sometimes nature takes care of our pruning for us, although not necessarily with the same focus and purpose as we have. Wildlife feeding on outer shoots and branch tips can produce a strange looking finished product. When you see shortened and stubby branches that look like they were snipped off, you can make the leap to placing the blame onto Bambi and friends. Other clues will include piles of droppings on the ground nearby or perhaps evidence of where they might have bedded down.

What do you do about it?

When you see damage unfold in spring, it is generally necessary to take a reactive approach, as the damage is done, and the culprit is unlikely to be sticking around to be caught. For physical damage, such as pruned branches, you will tend to have a bushier plant, but hopefully the plant will recover (if it has not been entirely eaten off). You may need to do some corrective pruning to fix the shape, thin the plant out and get things back on track. If it is a recurring problem, you might need to consider some major physical barriers (high fences) or some form of deterrent.