Winter means colder weather for all of Texas even including the Gulf Coast. However, except for the Panhandle and High Plains areas, the duration of below freezing temperatures is usually measured in hours rather than days. Occasionally though an arctic cold from grabs the State and hangs around for days.
When plants with high water content in their leaves are subjected to sustained temperatures below 32 degrees, water in and around the cells freezes and forms ice crystals. The sharp crystals cause ruptures in the cells' membranes leading to death. Initially after freeze damage, the leaves are soft and appear mushy. Later the leaves turn black and the affected area dies.
Here are a few tips and precautions to protect the garden and landscape fixtures:
- Water plants and trees before the freeze hits. Dry plants suffer more damage and it is possible to lose even hardy shrubs like wax-leaf ligustrum, photinias, oleanders and boxwoods if their roots are dried out.
- Disconnect hoses and store them in the garage. Cover outside faucets. The inexpensive Styrofoam covers from the big box retailers work fine. The ones with a rubber band to connect to the faucet are much easier to attach than the older ones with a metal hook.
- Frost-tolerant or cold-hardy plants like snapdragons and pansies should be covered with a sheet or frost cloth. Try covering more tender plants with a blanket or fleece cover. Suspend the cover over, but not touching the plants. According to the University of Florida on cold protection for plants, covers that touch plants may remove heat rather than store it. Do not use plastic covers, they offer little cold protection.
- Place small Christmas lights near the plants before covering to provide additional warmth.
- Add extra mulch to beds especially those with tender perennials.
- Greenhouses need to have internal temperature maintained at about 40 degrees. Depending on the location and siding, it may be necessary to place a heater in the greenhouse duuring the below freezing night temperatures. Monitor the temperature inside and turn-off the heater during the day.
- Drain small fountains and turn on larger ones or in-ground ponds, especially if there are fish living in them.
- Bring potted plants into the garage, if possible. The house temperature may be too much of a shock, but an unheated garage offers sufficient protection. If the pots cannot be brought into the garage, move them to a sheltered location and cover the plants.
In extremely prolonged cold weather, some plants, trees, and shrubs may be damaged, even with preventive measures in place. When conditions warm, remove damaged areas from trees and shrubs and replace flowers. Remember that cold weather is not all bad. The survival of disease carrying insects like mosquitoes and fleas will be challenged in the cold weather, too.
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