hard frost in new england last night vs newly repotted tridents

[yamins]

Hi all:

I have some newly repotted trident maple saplings (< 2ft tall). Last night temperatures hit mid 20s here in Massachusetts. Not paying as close attention to the weather as I should have, I just left the trees outside during the overnight hard frost. Over the past few weeks of warm weather, the foliage had definitely begun to develop to the point where the largest new leaves were about .5" in diameter. Trident leaves always look a little droopy when they first come out, but it appears as if the hard frost has had the effect of making the droopiness significantly more pronounced. I have no idea what it did to the roots.

So:

1) Is there anything I should have done beforehand, knowing the weather was about to take a turn?

2) Is there anything I should for them now? Bring them inside an unheated but somewhat warmer shed?

Thanks!

 

[JudyB]

Well, I don't know if it will kill them, only time will tell. You should have brought them into a protected area for the duration of the cold spell. Somewhere that it will not go below 35 or so. Especially as you had repotted them. The new growth will probably not make it, hopefully you will get regrowth. My suggestion would be to get it into a warmer area if you can. I would place them on a heat mat and try to get the roots happy again.
Good luck.

 

[rockm]

If the soil in the pots froze, you could have BIG problems. Tridents aren't the most frost hardy trees to begin with. Once their leaves have opened, trees' roots have lost most of their ability to withstand freezing. You will probably lose the leaves. After that, it's a waiting game. Put the plants where they will get only morning sun keep the soil moist, not soggy and wait for six weeks.DON'T bring them inside if frost and freezes aren't in the forecast. See what happens...

You should pay EXTREMELY CLOSE attention to the weather forecast in the spring. DON'T be fooled by spring warm ups. The last date for frost in your area is well into April. Your plants are in danger during this period. You have to be ready to move them into the house when frost and freezes are predicted. When the forecast has temps near 37 or 38 degrees, you should bring you plants in to be safe.

 

[fore]

Hi all:

I have some newly repotted trident maple saplings (< 2ft tall). Last night temperatures hit mid 20s here in Massachusetts. Not paying as close attention to the weather as I should have, I just left the trees outside during the overnight hard frost. Over the past few weeks of warm weather, the foliage had definitely begun to develop to the point where the largest new leaves were about .5" in diameter. Trident leaves always look a little droopy when they first come out, but it appears as if the hard frost has had the effect of making the droopiness significantly more pronounced. I have no idea what it did to the roots.

So:

1) Is there anything I should have done beforehand, knowing the weather was about to take a turn?

2) Is there anything I should for them now? Bring them inside an unheated but somewhat warmer shed?

Thanks!

I have about 8 in the ground, new seedlings, for about 2 wks. We hit 37 two nights ago, and had the same thing happen to two Tridents, mainly at the apex. Strange how it only affected 2/8 plants, plus, being in ground I couldn't bring them inside. Fort. at least for now forecasted not to go below 40 for the next week. Heck, even a huge red maple we have in the front yard has all droopy leaves. This weather has affected not only our bonsai's, but our landscaped trees. What a strange spring...

Good Luck Yamins and I hope yours pulls thru!

 

[Joedes3]

We've gone from 80 degrees to 30 degrees in Massachusetts. WOW!!!!! A strange year for the weather.

 

[rockm]

FWIW, temps above 32 will not harm leaves. Temps have to drop to 32 or below to adversely affect leaves. Droopy leaves on newly leafed out tridents is typical for them. It is not a sign they've been damaged. They firm up in a day or two.

Freeze damage usually happens after leaves have frozen and then warm up. The cells in the leaves will have burst from expanding water in them. When they're frozen it doesn't really show. Once they thaw, however, things change. They will sometimes turn black over time, or crusty and limp. It's a grab bag of damage.

Frost damage can be spotty, affecting some leaves usually on the tops, while others on the interior of the tree remain unaffected.

This is a sliding scale, depending on how long the leaves were exposed and/or frozen. The lowest temps come just before and just after dawn with still wind. When frost is about, pray that the wind or breeze stay up to minimize damage.

 

[fore]

Great to hear Rockm! I thought the droopy leaves was a bad sign. Thank You for the explanation!