When Winter Arrives, Your Trees Aren’t Dying—They’re Resting
If you’ve stepped outside lately and noticed your fruit trees or flowering shrubs looking a little… tragic—you’re not alone. Yellowing leaves, bare branches, spotting, and sudden leaf drop are some of the most common winter questions we receive. And interestingly, this confusion happens most often in Southern states, where winters are mild and dramatic seasonal changes can feel unfamiliar.
But here’s the reassurance:
This is completely normal.
Your trees are not dying.
They’re entering dormancy.
Dormancy is a built-in survival strategy that helps plants get through colder months with their energy reserves intact. Even though the top of the plant may look dull or lifeless, a lot is happening beneath the surface.
Why Dormancy Confuses Southern Gardeners
In colder climates, dormancy is expected—fall color, leaf drop, and bare branches are part of everyday seasonal life. But in the South (Zones 7–10), the transition can be subtle and often comes as a surprise.
Many Southern customers tell us:
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“My tree was green yesterday and dropped its leaves overnight.”
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“Only half the tree turned yellow—did something go wrong?”
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“The leaves have spots; is this disease?”
Because Southern landscapes stay green much longer, gardeners aren’t always used to seeing trees go fully bare, especially fruit trees, pomegranates, blueberries, persimmons, and young shade trees.
So when a plant suddenly drops leaves or changes color, it looks like a problem, but it’s actually just the plant doing what it’s biologically programmed to do.
What Exactly Is Dormancy?
Dormancy is a natural, seasonal “sleep mode” triggered by shorter days and cooler temperatures. Think of it as the plant’s version of hibernation.
During dormancy:
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Growth slows or stops
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Leaves yellow and drop
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Branches look bare
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Energy shifts to the roots for protection
Your plant is not trying to look beautiful right now—it’s trying to survive winter and prepare for spring growth.
Why Leaves Look Worse Right Before They Drop
Customers often send photos of leaves with:
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brown tips
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yellowing
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leaf spots
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holes
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curled edges
These are end-of-season leaves—they’re naturally breaking down before falling. This looks dramatic but is not harmful. Even evergreens shed older leaves during this period.
Dormancy Can Even Start During Shipping
If you received a plant in late fall or early winter and it arrived already yellowing, sparse, or partially leafless, this is not a sign of poor quality. It simply means the plant responded to cooler weather during transit.
Customers often assume this means the plant is unhealthy, but in reality, it is perfectly normal.
Dormancy Protects Your Plant
Dormancy helps plants withstand:
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temperature swings
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shorter daylight
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dry winter air
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reduced water availability
The plant takes a break above ground while strengthening its root system below.
How to Know Your Tree Is Still Alive
✔️ Scratch Test
Green, moist tissue under the bark = alive and healthy.
✔️ Branch Flexibility
Dormant wood bends; dead wood snaps.
✔️ Healthy Root Flare
Firm and solid at the base means the plant is doing fine.
What Dormant Trees Need (and Don’t Need)
Minimal Water
Plants use far less water in winter.
No Fertilizer
Feeding now can force tender growth that freezes.
Mulch for Insulation
Helps regulate soil temperature.
Patience
The plant will wake up once temperatures rise.
Spring: The Big Reveal
When dormancy ends, you’ll see:
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swelling buds
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new leaves
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fresh branches
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vibrant color
Dormancy ends slowly, but once growth starts, it happens fast.
Final Thoughts: Trust the Process
It can be unsettling to see a tree you just planted—or just received—suddenly look bare or beat up. But in most cases, what looks like trouble is simply the plant doing exactly what nature designed it to do.
Dormancy isn’t a sign of decline.
It’s a sign of preparedness.
Your tree is resting today so it can thrive tomorrow.
