In this Sun Post article, Ryan Gustafson from Davey’s Southwest Metro office explains the challenges trees and plants face when winter temperatures shift dramatically.
Posted: February 10, 2026

A snowy tree and shrub in a residential back yard.As we all experienced the past couple of weeks, deep freezing and quick moving cold fronts are tragic for a lot of people, heavily impacting our time outside. But did you know the cold can take their toll on landscape plants and trees as well?

Unusual winter weather confuses trees – especially when it's sporadic. One day, it’s seemingly warm. The next, it's -12 degrees again.

With weather peaking above freezing in the next couple of weeks, trees are more vulnerable to freeze-thaw cycles that weaken their structure over time. These conditions can make trees more susceptible to disease and increase the likelihood of breakage or failure, especially during spring storms. Several defects can raise the risk, including:

To continue reading this article, click here. 

For more information, contact the Southwest Metro office. 

The Davey Tree Expert Company provides research-driven tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental and utility infrastructure consulting for residential, utility, commercial and environmental partners in the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1880 and headquartered in Kent, Ohio, Davey has over 12,000 employees who create and deliver sustainable solutions. Davey continues to grow through expertise with the SEED Campus, its newest commitment to training, research and safety. Become part of the Davey legacy by applying today and join one of the top ten largest employee-owned companies in the U.S.

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