Ash and lilac should continue to be planted as they are important components of our native forests, windbreaks, and urban landscapes. Pruning Now is not a good time to remove healthy stems from trees, but the fresh green foliage provides an excellent opportunity to identify dead stems which should be removed. Dead and broken limbs stand out in otherwise healthy trees. They will not benefit trees and may provide sites for insects and disease-causing organisms to enter. Any limbs broken by winter snow loads or ice storms and any other dead stems should be removed as soon as possible.
Every year there are questions about pine, spruce, and other evergreens turning brown in the spring.
The most common cause of browning in evergreens is drying of the foliage during winter and early spring. If the tree's ability to pull water up from the frozen soil is not great enough to meet the needs of the foliage, that foliage will die from the tip back. Oftentimes, greater injury will be seen on the side of the evergreen facing the prevailing winds. These winds can dry out foliage quickly, especially on warm, sunny winter days. Winter injury may be increased by nonhardy stock, previous drought conditions, herbicide injury, weak root systems, stress from insects and diseases, or other forms of stress.