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kai00051

Wilt Pruf for preventing windburn?

21 years ago

Anyone ever use this stuff? I am considering using this on my 55 arborvitaes and 5 pine trees, all of which were planted this spring. I don't want to have to net them or cover them, but then again, I'll do what I have to do in order to prevent windburn and dead trees! :)

http://www.wiltpruf.com/protection.html

Thanks!

Comments (9)

  • 21 years ago

    I've used it on pieris, acuba japonica, mahonia, azalea, and sabal minor, all broadleaf evergreens here, and it worked amazingly well at preventing windburn. I use it faithfully every year now. It's good stuff!

  • 21 years ago

    you should not ever use wilt pruf on arborvitae it has a very strong potential for burning them,you could use it on your pines but with proper deep watering you really shouldn't need to
    good luck,
    ron

  • 21 years ago

    Ron, I have a gold arborvitae planted on a western exposure that used to windburn badly every winter. I have used Wiltpruf for the last three years according to the label directions and have had no burn whatsoever.

    V.

  • 21 years ago

    Thanks Veronicastrum, I was hoping to get a response from someone who has used it on Arborvitaes. Can I ask what state you live in, when you apply it to the tree, and how much (dillution 5:1 or 10:1) you apply?

    Thanks!

  • 21 years ago

    PS, here is a picture of my trees - please let me know if you'd recommend using Wilt Pruf on them, or you think I'd be better of wrapping them for their first, cold/long winter!

    http://www.gardenguides.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=55492&stc=1

    Thanks!

    Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.gardenguides.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=55492&stc=1

  • 21 years ago

    Hi Kai,

    I'm in northern Illinois, about 14 miles from the Wisconsin state line. I use the premixed Wiltpruf that comes in a spray bottle so I don't have to dilute it. Of course, I'm dealing with one arb versus your 55!

    When I spray has varied every year. I don't have the bottle here but the label tells you not to spray them too early in the season but to wait until the temps get cold and stay cold. What I just wrote is a little vague but the directions are more specific. It usually ends up being sometime in December.

    I think I would chose the spray over wrapping, because if you spray well, the coverage lasts all winter, but wrapping can be undone by a nasty storm and then has to be redone, usually in miserable weather. However, cost could very well be a factor that favors wrapping.

    Good luck with your planting!

    V.

  • 21 years ago

    Thanks V. for the response, that has helped me with my decision to proceed with Wilt Pruf. For everyones benefit, this is an e-mail I got back from Wilt Pruf with their answer to my similar questions as above:
    =================
    Dear kai00051,
    You may use Wilt-Pruf on arborviaes, but it is important to
    wait until the plants have completely hardened off, whereby
    the moisture in the foliage retreats to the root system for
    the winter. We suggest after the first part of December to
    be sure. You may spray Wilt-Pruf anytime as long as the
    spray does not freeze on the foliage while applying and for
    a couple of hours of drying time afterwards. If there is
    moisture in the foliage and a deep freeze should occur, that
    moisture in the plant cells can freeze and burst the cells
    causing damage to the plants. If Wilt-Pruf has been applied
    too early befdore hardening off, we get the blame for an act
    of nature. Hope this information helps.
    Brad Nichols
    ===============

  • 20 years ago

    I just posted in another thread that I will be putting Wilt-Pruf on my arborvitaes this late fall.....

    But, just another quick question for those who have used it. Do you rinse the trees in the spring after the weather is warming, or does it naturally wear off due to spring rains?

    Thanks!

  • 20 years ago

    Hi kai,
    With winter approaching this is timely advice.

    While a gardener at a large Estate in PA I had a similar situation. The Main house sat high on a hill...it's own micro climate. The front walk was bordered by a row of 4ft.x4ft. English boxwood....15 on each side. The first year I hammered stakes and stapled burlap to the stakes on both sides for protection (because that's what the previous gardener had done)....what an eyesore. I also had to continuously re-staple the burlap and re-hammer the stakes...remember this was on the top of a hill...very windy conditions, some days it was bitter cold with below 0 wind chills....I contacted the fine people at Wiltpruf and they assured me If I sprayed the boxwood in December after it had turned sufficiently cold enough for the them to go into dormancy...and then again in February....because March can be very cold and windy....they would be protected from wind burn......The following 2 years I did this using their mixing instructions.....never again did I have to deal with burlap and stakes in the howling winds of winter. The boxwood shrubs looked beautiful after each of the next 2 extremely cold winters. No ugly burlap at the entrance of a beautiful estate. I was a happy camper...love that wiltpruf. Not to mention if you have it around and in your sprayer there are many other shrubs that could benefit from a spray. I also use it to spray evergreen wreaths and sprays...no I don't work for wiltpruf...just a product I highly recommend...there are other anti desiccants that work just as well....no need to wash off that waxy covering it will wear off...just don't spray too late in the winter for the second application....
    remember....you still need to be watchful of heavy snow accumulations. Bundle up and remove the heavy snow from those tender branches.

    PEG

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