Assessing Freeze Injury on Horticultural Plants - Indiana Yard and Garden - Purdue Consumer Horticulture

Assessing Freeze Injury on Horticultural Plants

As so many gardeners are staying at home these days, we’ve had more opportunity to enjoy the spring display. And then, perhaps inevitably, “normal” spring frost and freeze visited. Some plants are vulnerable to damage. The amount of damage will depend on how far along they are in their development.

Home fruit-growers may have reason to be concerned: At 28 F, you can expect a 10 percent loss of flowers/young developing fruit. However, at 25 F that loss increases to 90 percent! Much of Indiana dropped to the mid 20s on the mornings of April 15 and 16.

Colored regional map showing the low temperature over the 24-hour period ending the morning of April 16, 2020. The different colors indicate the temperatures in 10 degree increments. There are 7 different temperature zones represented on this map.

Temperatures across the region the morning of April 16, 2020 (Midwest Climate Watch, Midwestern Regional Climate Center

For home growers, covering plants with sheets or blankets might provide a few degrees of protection.

Medium tree with no leaves is shown with white sheets covering three areas of the tree branches. The tree is shown in the front yard of a house in a neighborhood. Can see the street and driveway of house and a house across the street in the background.

Covering trees with sheets or blankets can provide a few degrees of protection. (John Obermeyer, Purdue Extension)

Bud counts were good until the freeze, so in some cases, even just 10 percent retained fruit might still be a decent crop on our tree fruits. Grapes may also still have ability to crop on shoots that have yet to emerge. Strawberries are a bit easier to protect through frost and freeze, but only if you took measures, such as using floating row covers, recovering with straw, etc.

However, it is only mid-April and additional frosts/freezes are still possible. Bottom line is that unless it is already a complete loss, we won’t really know the rest of the story for quite a few more weeks.

It is easy to check fruit buds for damage by cutting open the bud and looking for dark brown or black centers.

Small young peach fruit in the palm of hand that has been cut open to show a black center, indicating freeze damage to the fruit.

Freeze-damaged young peach fruit (Bruce Bordelon, Purdue Extension)

Our Purdue Extension fruit specialists put together these videos to help you assess the status of your fruit plants.

Assessing Spring Freeze Damage to Apples
Video: http://youtu.be/YcSRg74Hb_A

Assessing Spring Freeze Damage to Peaches
Video: http://youtu.be/DcS2XGAqoFk

Assessing Spring Freeze Damage to Grapes
Video: http://youtu.be/lNUZu5Bx08M

Assessing Spring Freeze Damage to Strawberries
Video: http://youtu.be/F-QoX1C4_S0

Assessing Spring Freeze Damage to Blackberries
Video: http://youtu.be/EyIhvfY2apM

For ornamental trees and shrubs, plant response has been quite varied, depending on species, location and, of course, temperature and duration of that temperature. Susceptible plants may have wilted leaves, brown or black necrotic spots on leaves, or perhaps dieback of entire twigs. Plants that were in bloom likely have brown petals or dropped flowers entirely.

Close up image of a magnolia flower showing severe freeze injury indicated by wilted and curled petals of the flower.

Magnolia blossom with severe freeze injury (Bruce Bordelon, Purdue Extension)

 

Rhododendron bush in a bed in front of a house that had been in full bloom showing freeze injury indicated by a majority of the blooms laying on the ground all around the bush.

Rhododendron blossom drop due to freeze (John Obermeyer, Purdue Extension)

Note that freeze incidents are normal for this time of year. The good news is that woody plants, in most cases, will outgrow the damage.

 


Share This Article
Disclaimer: Reference to products is not intended to be an endorsement to the exclusion of others which may have similar uses. Any person using products listed in these articles assumes full responsibility for their use in accordance with current directions of the manufacturer.
Indiana Yard and Garden – Purdue Consumer Horticulture - Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, 625 Agriculture Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907

© 2024 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by Indiana Yard and Garden – Purdue Consumer Horticulture

If you have trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please contact Indiana Yard and Garden – Purdue Consumer Horticulture at homehort@purdue.edu | Accessibility Resources