Does wind chill affect plants? First let's define wind chill. Wind chill measures how cold the air feels to people and animals. Wind chill is figured by an equation based on the wind speed and the air temperature. The stronger the wind, the more body heat it draws away from exposed skin, which in turn brings down the body temperature, making us feel colder than we would on a calm day with similar air temperatures. (For more about wind chill, visit the National Weather Service's Wind Chill Questions page.)
As for plants and wind chill, it does not have any real effect. Plants respond to the actual air temperature. They do not generate heat that can be pulled away by wind and they do not "feel" cold. If the wind chill is 32˚F but the temperature is 40˚, plants react to 40˚. Direct sun may increase the plant's temperature above that of the air somewhat. However a plant's temperature will not fall lower than that of the air.
Although wind chill does not affect plants, the wind itself can. Wind can dry out stems and foliage and result in damage. This can be especially problematic in winter, when the air is already relatively dry, which can reduce the amount of moisture within soil and plants. Dry air and a dehydrating wind can cause damage especially to evergreen plants; the leaves they retain are susceptible to water loss.
Keeping evergreens watered through the fall and during warmer spells in winter is helpful in preventing dessication (extreme drying) over the winter. Read more about preventing trees and shrubs from common winter injuries here.
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