The Tree MD

WINTER DAMAGE: WHATS GOING ON?

Winter damage in plants is often blamed on “the cold,” but the reality is more nuanced. At Tree MD, we approach plant health as the active management of living systems, and winter injury is a clear example of why that matters. Two primary forces are at work: desiccation and low-temperature cellular injury. Desiccation happens when plants lose moisture faster than they can replace it—usually because the ground is frozen and roots can’t take up water, while sun and wind continue to pull moisture from foliage. Low-temperature injury, by contrast, occurs inside the plant, where extreme cold damages cells, disrupts membranes, and interferes with normal biological function. These stresses often occur together, but they impact plants in different ways.

Broadleaf evergreens and conifers are especially vulnerable because they hold their foliage year-round. Even in winter, their needles and leaves continue to lose moisture on warmer or windy days. Without access to water from the soil, that moisture loss leads to drying, browning, and tissue damage. At the same time, cold temperatures can quietly injure internal structures like buds and vascular tissue, which may not show immediate symptoms.

One of the most frustrating aspects of winter injury is that it often goes unnoticed until spring. Plants may look fine during dormancy, but as they begin to come out of it, underlying damage becomes visible. You might see delayed leaf-out, thinning canopies, browning tips, or entire sections that fail to recover. What appeared healthy in winter can quickly reveal stress once growth resumes.

This is why a proactive, diagnostic approach matters. Understanding whether a plant is dealing with moisture loss, internal cold injury, or both allows for a more precise response. Supporting recovery isn’t just about waiting it out—it’s about giving the plant what it needs to regain function and stability after a stressful season.

If your evergreens or conifers aren’t bouncing back the way they should, don’t assume they’ll correct on their own. Winter injury can cause lasting damage to plant tissues, and recovery depends on both the severity of that damage and the conditions the plant is recovering in. The Tree MD approach focuses on evaluating plant health at a deeper level—identifying whether tissue is still viable and what conditions may be limiting recovery—so informed decisions can be made about next steps. When issues are identified early in the season, there are more options available to support recovery and reduce the likelihood of long-term decline. If something looks off this spring, it’s worth having it evaluated—call to schedule an appointment and get a clear understanding of what your plants need moving forward.