Extreme cold can cause problems for early flowering trees and shrubs. Don’t be surprised to see reduced flowering this spring on Magnolias, Japanese Maples, Flowering Dogwoods, and Forsythia.

Mechanical damage from snow loads is apparent up and down the coast. Boxwood, Arborvitae, false cypress, yews and junipers are all showing bent branches from the combination of heavy snow and wind. Most of these bent branches will self-correct given time.

If you are tempted to bring branches into an upright position with wire, rope or other methods, remember check on these later in the season or the tie off will damage the growing branch.

Late spring and summer may reveal latent snow load damage. This spring and summer watch for developing problems in trees and shrubs. Damage to branches that were stressed but not broken may appear during periods of rapid growth or under drought stress later in the season.