Intense drops and fluctuations in temperature during winter months can damage the ornamental plants in a residential or commercial lawn. Winter damage can cause dead twigs and branches or off-color leaves in trees and shrubs, even evergreens. Cold weather damage on ornamental trees and plants can take two forms: winter burn and frost cracks.

1. Winter Temperatures Can
Damage Ornamental and
Landscaping Plants
U.S. Lawns

2. Intense drops and fluctuations in temperature during winter months can damage the ornamental plants in
a residential or commercial lawn. Winter damage can cause dead twigs and branches or off-color leaves
in trees and shrubs, even evergreens. Cold weather damage on ornamental trees and plants can take two
forms: winter burn and frost cracks.
Frost Damage
Winter burn happens when a plant's leaf or needle tissue is desiccated and they lose water much quicker
than they can absorb it. Sunny skies combined with strong winds increase the loss of water in plants, even
during winter months. However, low temperatures freeze water in the ground at that time of year. This
prevents the root systems of plants from making up the moisture the leaves have lost, leading to dry and
unsightly red-brown foliage.

3. Extreme temperature fluctuations lead to frost cracks. When winter winds freeze the water in tree
trunks, the water leaves the cells, which shrinks the wood. This causes tension between the frozen and
unfrozen layers of the tree. With enough tension, the bark splits open as the wood separates. A loud
cracking sound accompanies this separation. If the temperature drops enough to thaw the water
molecules, the wood reabsorbs the moisture, sealing the crack. Repeated temperature fluctuations can
enlarge the injury.
Preventing Winter Damage
Property owners can ensure the health of their greenery by partnering with grounds care companies with
experience in dealing with harsh winter conditions. Landscape service providers with proper training can
mitigate winter damage and prevent an unsightly lawn in springtime.
Preventing winter burn entails deep soaking trees and plants before winter to provide them with
adequate moisture and laying down an insulating layer of mulch at the base of plants. Grounds care
crews can also erect windbreaks of canvas or similar materials to reduce the water loss from strong
winds. They can also apply a layer of white latex paint on tree trunks to protect them from frost cracks.
The reflective property of white paint reduces the effects of temperature fluctuations.

4. Sources:
https://extension.wvu.edu/lawn-gardening-pests/plant-disease/landscape-tree-disease/winter-damage
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/winter-damage-landscape-plants
https://uslawns.com/locations/va/winchester/