What is frost damage?
Frost creates very small ice crystals between and inside plant cells which draws water from the plant. Once this happens, the cells are killed if they lose too much water or if they are torn by the sharp edges of the crystals. Cells that thaw rapidly can be killed when water rushes back into them. If numerous cells are killed, the entire plant may die. Plants with frost damaged parts may appear to look water-soaked as they thaw. If damage is serious, plants may wither, turn brown or black, and die. Branches that are dormant may not reveal damage right away; however, when the foliage begins to emerge, dead or damaged parts will become obvious. For example tree or large plant trunks may develop vertical cracks. Fruit crops may produce less or the fruit may be deformed. If damage occurs, prune back the plant’s dead parts right away to prevent disease. When does frost strike? Frost does the most damage to plants when it sets in quickly. Even cold-hardy plants can be damaged by sudden frost
