This is winterburn, and it's going to be common and widespread this season due to winter's cold snaps and dry weather. (Despite the snow, we are still well behind on precipitation and in a drought for the second straight year.) Winterburn occurs when either the soil gets too dry and winter weather desiccates the leaves on evergreens, or when soil moisture is too frozen for roots to absorb it as leaves lose moisture to the dry air and wind.

Winterburn-damaged leaves will be shed by the plant later this spring; there is no need to remove them, other than for aesthetics. If you did, though, pruning the branch tips may set the plant back in growth, since the stem tissue might be fine and capable of leafing-out normally. Given that, it's best to wait until April or later to make sure you can tell which branch tips may be dead and need trimming versus those that are just temporarily denuded as dead leaves fell off. During mild weather, pruning can stimulate regrowth, which is not desirable if we haven't yet moved past the time of year when early growth could be nipped by an overnight frost. (To be fair, this can happen even when shrubs are not pruned in spring, but early trimming may increase the risk of damage from that cause.)

Miri

Miri

This was just the kind of detailed answer I was looking for.  I'm sure that we will be recieving lots of the same question I had at the MG plant clinics.  Since the UME Plant Clinic Updates will be starting next month, perhaps you may consider addressing the subject for everyone.  Thanks so much.

You're welcome! We almost certainly will address winterburn, in addition to chronic drought stress issues.

Miri