The recent bout of cold weather was not unusual compared to historical low temperature ranges; much of central Maryland still experienced a zone 7 winter (which is when average lows reach 0 to 10 degrees F), and even if areas experienced a zone 6 winter (-10 to 0 degrees F), that is typical for the area. The majority of insects and plant diseases that occur here with regularity are hardy enough to withstand those temperatures, if not colder. (For example, Spotted Lanternfly can handle colder winter temperatures, as can our local species of ticks and mosquitoes.) Snow cover is insulating, which is beneficial from the perspective of protecting shallow plant roots and low branches from the brunt of the cold snap (especially for more marginally-hardy shrubs or perennials), although the prolonged melt period may result in some fungal snow mold outbreaks in areas of turfgrass.

Of more negative consequence than the cold for both plants and insects this past season will be the ongoing drought conditions, especially since roots cannot rehydrate buds or evergreen leaves that are drying out while the moisture in the top few inches of soil is frozen.

Miri