"A disaster, an absolute disaster," is how County Agent Rick Jasperse described effects low temperatures will have on apples, figs, grapes and other fruit trees. He said it's possible some crop will follow through later blooms, but it doesn't look promising.
For the home gardener, Jasperse said it's too early to tell how much damage was done to landscapes plants. He said most established trees, particularly large, healthy ones, should be fine. He advised plant owners to be patient with any pruning or replacing for at least a month. He said most plants will re-bud, but some will probably be killed by the the freeze.
The cold snap hit particularly hard this year as plants were about two weeks ahead of normal growth due to a mild spring, Jasperse said. In spring, cold weather hurts leaves and the plants themselves because plants are filled with moisture and pushing moisture through branches to the buds.
Freezing temperatures cause jagged ice crystals to form, tearing the leaves and plants from the inside. In winter there is less moisture in plants, and what is there has a higher sugar concentration, preventing damage during the winter despite freezing temperatures.
The county agent said this is the worst cold damage he's ever seen in Pickens County, but could recall at least three other similar episodes of winter striking hard late the in year.
Jasperse said there is really nothing homeowners can do to help plants damaged by the cold.
"We won't know for a month which plants were killed. Most will bounce back," he said. "Freshly planted plants are going to have the toughest time. The only thing we can do now is not over-fertilize at this point. You can't force plants to do something. The best thing is to water once a week if it's dry and maybe give them a month. Give them time to re-bud and put on new growth."