Freeze Damage to Trees

Terminal buds after freeze

Q: I’m worried about my trees after our recent freeze. A number of mine had started to leaf out and now the new growth is black. I’m also worried about my fruit trees. Did the freeze destroy the crop?

Your trees will be just fine after the freeze.  They have backup systems in place for this very situation.  They know Mother Nature can be unpredictable so there are reserve buds to take over if the primary buds are damaged. 

Whatever you do, don’t cut them back.  I’ve already seen new growth starting on many of the damaged trees around town.  All you can do is be patient and wait.  If you are tempted to go out and stimulate new growth with fertilizer, wait until you see signs of new growth.

 Same with your fruit crop.  It often depends on whether your trees were planted at the top of a slope or at the bottom.  Cold air sinks.  Mine are at the top of a slope.  The foliage looks fine but it looks like I lost all the fruit that had set.  I guess I’ll be visiting the farmer’s markets this summer.

Frost-damaged Apricot

Ash tree new growth damage from freeze

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Read our Q & As with Keith Funk answering common Colorado gardening questions here. See his website: gardenwiseguy.com and hear him on the Garden Wise Radio Show.