Trees use of carb's, when?

[blissville maples]

this is probably a good one for Dr. Tim. im wondering when does a tree start to use its reserves; as they form buds (in march/april) or as the leaves break(may/june)??? do days like today, in low 30's lots of sun, where sap wont run, but chances are twigs thaw, does the tree use any reserves during days like these since they have had some dormancy??

[Bucket Head]

Dr. Tim will certainly have the complete answer to this question. The short answer is enzymes in the wood convert starch into sugar during the dormant season, for the start of the upcoming growth season, as I understood it. I would imagine the "growth season" starts on the first day any sap may move in the tree.

Also, and I can't remember where I read it, but I read that the tree also uses the sugar as an anti-freeze to help protect the tree's cells from freezing. Not 100% sure on that. Dr. Tim will be able to tell us fact or fiction on this.