SP307-G-Protecting Fruit Trees from Winter Injury

Winter freeze damage, also called Southeast trunk injury, can be a problem for young fruit trees growing in Tennessee. This damage can occur on sunny winter days even though temperatures may be quite low. Sunlight striking the tree trunk may raise the temperature of the bark on the lower trunk to 80 or 90 F. Cambial tissue under the bark will lose hardiness. When the sun goes down, trunk temperatures will drop to the same temperature as the air. If this temperature drops below a critical point, these sensitive tissues will be injured or killed.