Have you ever wondered how trees survive winter?  Winter in Westchester County, New York can be brutal; from frigid winds, heavy snowfall and sleet as well as the occasional below-freezing temperature.  Westchester Tree Life explores how trees survive winter!

DormancyComparable to hibernation, trees survive winter in a state of dormancy.  A tree begins to prepare for dormancy once it looses its leaves in fall; this excludes conifers, which retain their nettles during winter.  This shedding of foliage is the first step of slowing down the tree’s metabolism, energy consumption and growth.

All About ABA

ABA or Abscisic acid is produced in the tree’s terminal buds.  Terminal buds can be found at the point where a leaf breaks off before it falls.  Once that happens, ABA gathers where the leaf has broken off; this chemical suspends the tree’s growth and prevents cells from dividing.  Preventing growth is part of a tree’s dormancy process.  This saves energy, as the tree isn’t making any new food for energy and has to conserve the food it has stored.  This limited energy is used sparingly, when needed.