When a heavy frost is expected, covering the trees will sometimes prevent bud or blossom injury, provided temperatures do not fall too low and the cold weather is of short duration. Protective coverings may be effective, such as floating row cover material or old bedsheets. During spring frosts, some commercial growers heat their orchards, but this method is impractical for home gardeners. Ice that forms on buds provides an insulating effect until temperatures rise above freezing. Most fruit trees need to be pollinated.
Pollination is affected by cold weather and reduced pollinating insect activity.
Without sufficient pollination, trees may blossom abundantly but will not bear fruit. Both the anthers, which contain pollen, and the pistils, which develop into fruit, are located in the same blossom. However, many types of fruit trees that have perfect flowers cannot produce fruit from their own pollen. Some species of fruit trees do not fit conveniently into either category. Persimmons and dates have male trees that produce pollen and female trees that produce fruit.