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Snow and ice » Freeze injury » Dessication/evergreens » Snow buildup » Winter damage to ornamentals

When frost occurs » Frost during autumn »

Snow and ice that spread up the east coast of the U.S. during late Jan. 2000 buried and snarled transportation from Georgia to New York. In the southeastern U.S. where snow and ice removal generally revolves around rising temperatures, the extended cold weather had many homeowners concerned about their landscape plants. Breakage of plant material by snow and ice is caused by their weight and improper removal. High winds can compound damage when ice is on the plants. Snow that is collecting on shrubs should be removed immediately with a broom. Always sweep upward which lifts the snow off the branches. Brushing downward can put additional pressure on the branches sagging from ice and snow causing breakage. TechNotes Volume III, Issue 5, February 3, 2000
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Freeze injury to turfgrasses becomes a concern to many turfgrass managers when cold temperatures arrive in January. In TechNotes Volume 3 issue 2 the killing temperatures were given for many of the common lawn turfs. Turfgrass plants are the most cold hardy during January. Most freeze or cold temperature kill occurs during freezing/thawing cycles in the late winter/early spring. Heavy snows act as a blanket preventing wide temperature fluctuation during winter. TechNotes Volume III, Issue 5, February 3, 2000
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Desiccation, or drying out, is a significant cause of winter damage on evergreens. Desiccation is simply water leaving the plants faster than it can be taken up. The needles and leaves of evergreens transpire some moisture even during the winter months. During severe cold weather, the soil can freeze, effectively eliminating water uptake by the evergreen roots. Water loss from transpiration is greatest on days that are generally mild, sunny and windy. The heat from the sun causes the stomates on the lower sides of the leaves to open (increasing transpiration). Injury is seen as burned evergreen needles or leaves. Damage is worse on the tree side facing the wind, and can be serious to plants near white houses that receive reflected light.

Broad-leafed evergreens showing leaf damage from desiccation and/or winter injury will usually produce new leaves if branches and vegetative leaf buds have not been severely injured. Prune to remove badly damaged or broken branches. TechNotes Volume III, Issue 4, January 27, 2000
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Snow buildup on landscape plants should be avoided. If significant amounts of snow accumulate on shrubs, removal by brushing the snow off with a broom is advised. Sweeping the snow off the shrubs should be in an upward fashion so that the snow is lifted off. The two main causes of breakage from snow and ice are due to the weight and careless removal. TechNotes Volume III, Issue 1, January 6, 2000
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Winter damage to ornamentals can be avoided by planning ahead. Use plant materials that are known to be winter hardy. TechNotes Volume III, Issue 1, January 6, 2000
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When frost occurs, foot traffic, as well as any other traffic, should remain off the turf until temperatures rise. TechNotes Archive
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Frost during autumn occurs on a more frequent basis. Avoid mowing turf when frost is present. Mowing can result in damage to the leaf blades. As long as the crown is not damaged, the turf should come back from any frost injury. TechNotes Archive
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