Don’t panic over frost damage to trees and shrubs

Bert Cregg<cregg@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension, Departments of Horticulture and Forestry - May 15, 2017

Damage may look severe, but plants will usually recover.

Photo 1. Late frost damage from May 8–9 frosts on London planetree. Photo by Dana Ellison.

Our recent frosty mornings resulted in late frost damage to a variety of trees and shrubs. Frost damage that occurs in late winter or early spring, also known as late frost damage, is characterized by damage to newly emerging shoots and leaves following freezing temperatures. Oftentimes, it may take a few days for damage to become evident, and is usually characterized by browning of new growth, particularly leaves and needles.

The morning of May 8 and 9, 2017, saw temperatures below freezing for much of lower Michigan. This resulted in damage to new growth on various species including baldcypress, sycamores and planetrees (Photo 1), as well as conifers (Photo 2).

As evidenced by these photos, late frost damage is often dramatic and can cause concern for homeowners and landscapers. Fortunately, the damage is largely aesthetic and plants will quickly resume growth. There will likely be some growth reduction in these plants for the current season, but Michigan State University Extension notes there will be little, if any, lasting impact.

Late frost damage from May 8–9 frosts on Turkish fir

Photo 2. Late frost damage from May 8–9 frosts on Turkish fir. Photo by Dana Ellison.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).