Sally Scalera

Brevard County Horticulture Extension Agent
3695 Lake Drive -- Cocoa FL 32926 -- 321-633-1702

Protect plants during winter

December 11, 2010 If a freeze does occur, there are precautions that can be taken to protect sensitive plants and things to do after a freeze for any plants that may have been damaged. The good news though, is that we usually get plenty of warning before a cold front hits.

Here are some suggestions of things to do before a freeze hits!

    Turn off your irrigation timer!! If your sprinklers turn on and then off (either just before or during the freeze) more damage will occur then if the irrigation had never turned on at all.
  • Water your sensitive plants thoroughly a day to two before the freeze is forecasted and don’t forget to water any outdoor plants that are in containers. This step is very important if a windy cold front is forecasted since plants can dry out from both the low humidity and the wind. Now, if the prediction is correct and we have a wet winter this step may not be needed!
  • Make sure tender plants (actually all plants will benefit) are mulched with a two to four inch layer of mulch. The only exception to our mulching rule is for citrus which should have the mulch kept at least six inches away from the base of the trunk.
  • Young citrus trees can be protected by quilts and blankets or placing a mound of soil around the base of the trunk (this is called banking.) Just make sure the soil is up over the graft. If the weather warms up the next day though, you will need to remove the mound of soil from around the trunk.
  • Spray sensitive plants with liquid seaweed that day or a day before the freeze arrives. Spray both sides of the foliage with a fine mist of the liquid seaweed solution.
  • Move containerized plants into the garage or house. If they must stay outside, move them together and cover the entire group with blankets or quilts.
  • When a hard freeze is forecasted you can place a light bulb or Christmas lights underneath the cover. (LED bulbs will not work for this since they remain cool.) Just make sure that none of the hot bulbs come into contact with the covering.
  • If plastic tarps or sheets of plastic will be used, build a structure with wood or PVC to support the plastic above the foliage. Secure the plastic to the ground so that the wind won’t get underneath.

Here are suggestions of things to do for damaged plants after a freeze!

  • Delay severe pruning until new growth appears in the spring. This will guard against any live wood accidentally being removed plus, if another freeze occurs, more of the surviving wood will be protected.
  • Dead, unsightly leaves may be removed as soon as they turn brown. Just pick them off and use them as mulch.
  • Though many tropical plants may get killed back down to the ground (but will re-sprout from the roots in the spring) some may be totally killed – roots and all. If you want to replant again in the spring make sure that you do not replant it in the same spot again! Some locations that will provide tropical or tender plants with added cold protection include under trees (this is not an option if the plant requires full sun), near fences or tall plants, or on the south side of the house.
  • Spray any damaged plants, with chlorophyll present like foliage or even green trunks (including turf) with at least four weekly applications of liquid seaweed.

All I can hope, if we do get a very cold and wet winter, is that “the very cold” part doesn’t include any freezes! The bright side of that prediction is that our drought should end if we do end up getting a wet winter. Oh, and another benefit of a very cold winter is that for all of you who have deciduous fruit trees, shrubs or vines planted, you should be harvesting a bumper crop of fruit next year!

Contact Scalera, Brevard County's horticulture extension agent, at 3695 Lake Drive, Cocoa, FL 32926, or 321-633-1702 or email us at Brevard-mg1@ifas.ufl.edu