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The Maine Forest Service has received reports this week of late-spring frost damage to some sensitive ornamental plants and to new growth on some tree species.
The long period of warm spring weather likely has contributed to the injury by allowing tender young growth to be exposed earlier than usual, according to William Ostrofsky, MFS forest pathologist. “Fortunately, frost damage is expected to be of little long-term consequence to forest trees,”
Ostrofsky noted. The frost conditions, however, appears to have caused a serious reduction in the production of apples and some other fruits as well, he said.
Plant species as diverse as apples; Andromeda, an evergreen shrub; bamboo, or Japanese knotweed; American beech; ashes; oaks; and maples have been damaged in widely scattered locations throughout the state, he said.
Damage to beech and maple has been observed in Andover, North Surplus and Pownal, the forest pathologist said. Damage to oaks has been observed in Kennebec County and also in the Skowhegan and Norridgewock areas.
Frost conditions in central and northern Maine occurred late this week, and some damage to evergreen ornamentals and Christmas tree plantations is likely to have occurred, Ostrofsky said. Conifer injury is often slower to become visible, showing up as dead branch tips two weeks or more after the injury has occurred. Monitoring conifers closely for the next few weeks will help to corroborate the cause as frost, he said.
Damage to Andromeda was observed in Augusta, and damage to bamboo has been seen in several locations in southern Maine and as far north as Sidney. Plants in most Maine communities, however, appear to have experienced some frost damage, Ostrofsky said.
Symptoms of frost damage include wilting and a water-soaked or translucent appearance of leaves and shoots after thawing. A blackening of the affected plant tissues within a day or so after the freezing event is also common, Ostrofsky said.
The late-spring frost is not expected to affect forest trees over the long term, the forest pathologist said. Trees can re-foliate and shoots often recover after being killed back. Tree seed production – for example, acorns on oaks – may be reduced, however, in localized areas or on individual trees, Ostrofsky said.
The Maine Forest Service will issue a full “Conditions Report” on Maine trees early next week. Those interested in receiving the reports can subscribe online at: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/ConditionsReportsIndex.htm
