Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine

[Guest writer John Lloyd (Rainbow Tree Care, Minneapolis MN) provided the following report].  Notes from the Northwoods (the Minneapolis branch of BYGL):  Although spring is officially here we are still at risk for frost and freezing damage to trees.  Peach, apple and blackberry producers in southern Ohio had some flower buds nipped over the last week or two.  As buds swell they become less tolerant of cold temperatures and can be damaged at temperatures well above freezing.  For fruit producers, significant flower death will reduce fruit production.  For landscapes it can result in reduced bloom on ornamental flowering trees or with conifers it can cause terminal bud death.  This injury to conifers is more significant than the common winter burn that occurs when young tissues desiccate.  Needles impacted by winter burn will fall off, but the live buds will still produce living tissue during the growing season.  With dead buds, this will not occur and conifers may lose their aesthetic appeal.  For more information on identifying and managing frost injury on fruits and flowering trees look at the website at Michigan State University Extension  [ http://www.canr.msu.edu/vanburen/frost.htm ]