As mentioned over the past few weeks, adequate watering of plantings throughout the fall is a key to preventing this damage. Another consideration concerning winter weather is the effect on pests. Sub-zero temperatures can be brutal on us but also on some insects. Gypsy moth, currently increasing as a problem in our area, is favored by mild winters because it overwinters as egg cases susceptible to damage in subzero temperatures. Voles, which can damage tender bark of trees and shrubs along with tunneling across the surface of lawns, cause more problems when there is snowcover to provide shelter from predators.
Rabbits also tend to cause more damage to trees and shrubs when there is extensive snowcover.