Winter to spring

In early spring deciduoustrees come out of dormancy, which is a means of saving energy and water overwinter by shutting down. Blackthorn and cherry plum are examples of earlystarters in February. For conifers, dormancy means go-slow rather than stop – socoming out means speeding up again.

Triggered by longer daysand higher temperatures, new growth appears on twigs while buds swell and burstinto life. ‘Budburst’ is a classic sign of spring (although buds start to growbefore winter).

In March we see the likesof horse chestnut and oak ‘budbursting’, maple and willow coming into leaf andpear and plum blossoming, while in early April the world-famous Japanese cherry(Sakura) blossom takes place. You can check out ours at Val de la Mare – thanksto Embassy of Japan UK for gifting these to us.

Photosynthesis andtranspiration begin as leaves unfurl from buds with most deciduous trees floweringsoon thereafter.

Spring is a time of fastgrowth from root to canopy but has pros and cons threats-wise. Although there’sless danger from storms, cold, snowfall or dry air, trees are more likely to beattacked by the likes of animals, fungi or certain pathogens like anthracnoseand fireblight.

The earliest budburstrecorded by Forestry England since records began in 2010 was a hazel on 29November 2021. The latest was an English oak on 3 May 2013.

For anyone with trees,spring is the time to think about watering, mulching, pest management and (formost trees) pruning.

Sakura cover photo by Gruendercoach (Pixabay).