Caring For Your Lawn Pre- & Post-Freeze
Dec 08th 2017
Serious freezes are not common in regions with mild winters like North Central Florida, but they can happen if temperatures drop low enough. If you are proud of your yard and the hard work you put into it during the spring, summer and fall, don’t let it go to waste during the first freeze. Inform yourself about the risks winter brings and potential ways to prevent or mitigate harm. Follow these Gainesville landscaping tips to prepare for potential frost, minimize damage and maintain a healthy, beautiful garden year round.
How Frost Causes Damage
Frost is one of the forms of damage to your landscape Gainesville winters could cause. During a freeze, ice crystals can form in plant cells, disrupting the movement of fluid and disabling water from moving to plant tissue. This makes plants, especially fragile ones, more prone to breakage and dehydration. Frost-damaged leaves look soaked, shrivel and may turn a darker color.
How to Combat Frost
Before the Freeze
Plants can be classified according to the minimum temperatures they normally tolerate. “Hardy” plants can withstand some short-term freezing, while “tender” plants have a hard time surviving or recovering from freezing temperatures. The type of plants you choose to have when you start to build your yard determines the level of maintenance it will require as seasons change, especially in the winter. Although choosing hardy plants can save some trouble in the long run, don’t give up if most of your plants are tender. There are several ways to help them endure the cold months.
Sheltering Your Plants
Depending on the types of plants you have in your yard, you may want to move some into your home for the duration of the freeze. After debugging them, bring potted tender plants inside until morning or until temperatures rise again after a freeze. If you have plants that are hard to relocate because of their side or the way they are rooted, you could cover them with an inverted bucket or pot, horticultural fabric, burlap or cloth to protect them from a freeze. Pay special attention to citrus trees, spring-blooming shrubs such as azalea, warm-season vegetables such as tomato, corn and pepper, and tender bulbs such as dahlia. Any young, recently planted trees, flowers or bushes are often the most vulnerable to freezes. A Gainesville lawn care professional could help you discern which plants should be taken inside and whether you need to protect the ones you leave outside.
Knowing When to Water
During winter, water plants only when the soil feels dry. Checking weather predictions can help you minimize frost damage by alerting you of incoming cold fronts and allowing you to take the necessary precautions. If you suspect a freeze is coming, try to water your plants at least 24 hours in advance, preferably during the day, to give them enough time to absorb the moisture before dropping temperatures turn it into ice. Avoid getting water on leaves, trunks and stems to prevent ice chunks from forming and sitting on them, causing breakage or dehydration.
After the Freeze
When the freeze is over, uncover your plants and return those you may have brought inside to their outdoor spot. Many plants can be remarkably resilient, so if you see any signs of damage, don’t overreact thinking all is lost. Do not dig up the plant immediately or prune off affected parts. When the weather warms up at the beginning of spring, you may see new leaves sprouting or healthy growth at the base of the plant. If this happens, prune out the damaged parts. Otherwise, remove the dead plant and replace it with a more cold-tolerant species.
Landscaping Gainesville, FL, Can Rely On
With years of experience providing lawn service in Gainesville, FL, Evergreen Lawn Care can be your reliable landscaping company. Our lawn care experts can give you information and instructions on how to care for your plants throughout the year as well as perform yard work for you. Call us today for an appointment!
