Trees are cold hardy because of many factors. In preparation for winter, many trees reduce the amount of water in their tissue. They usually enter a dormant state to survive cold winters. Some trees, such as maple trees, produce more sugar. When this sugar dissolves in the water, it lowers the freezing point of the fluid. Unlike plumbing pipes, tree tissue is somewhat flexible; as water in the channels freezes and expands, the tree’s tissue can stretch somewhat.