The coldest temperatures of the season are expected overnight
from the teens to the 20’s across the state, but by the end of
the week we’ll be back in the 60’s. But the seesawing
temperatures are not good for the trees. Right now many
flowering trees are covered with buds and look more like its
early spring than winter, especially those in urban
environments. It hasn’t been cold enough for concrete to cool
down and many lack enough topsoil to be protected from
temperature swings. Arborist Odis Sisk says trees establish buds
in the fall and some could open early and be damaged by cold.
“When springtime comes around and you’ve thought, ‘well, my
beautiful Cherry the past 12 years has always bloomed really
nice. I can’t wait to see the flowers.’ It may have significant
loss in the amount of active buds that are still left on the
tree.” Sisk says many urban trees are not native to Georgia and
don’t adapt well to the changing environment. They’re chosen
because they grow fast and look good.