But leaf scorch would have to recur for two to three years in a row before it would endanger the tree, he said. And white oaks survive better under dry conditions . As colder weather arrives in Tennessee, many motorists will find that their car batteries cannot stand up to the cold. At 0 F a battery will have less than half of its rated power, Wills said. If the battery is beginning to lose some of its power due to age or other problems, this power loss will show up at lower temperatures, he said.
Stores sell batteries by size and cold-cranking power.
Three or four sizes of batteries will fit more than 95 percent of the vehicles on the market. Many good batteries get replaced in cold weather simply because the connections to the battery cables were corroded. So the power from the battery couldn't get to the vehicle starter to turn the engine. A wire brush and some baking soda in water will do an excellent job of cleaning and removing corrosion. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda in a pint of water to make a neutralizing solution to clean battery surfaces and connectors.