Fort Bend County Master Gardener Shares Expert Tips for Preparing Your Garden and Protecting Plants from Winter Freezes
As the forecast predicts an upcoming historic winter storm to impact southeast Texas, it’s crucial for homeowners and gardeners to take proactive steps to protect their plants from the bitter cold. According to Deborah Birge, a Master Gardener with Fort Bend County Master Gardeners, early preparation and proper freeze protection can be the difference between a healthy garden come spring or a landscape filled with damaged plants.
With temperatures expected to dip below freezing in the coming days, Birge emphasizes the importance of planning ahead to prevent damage to tropical and semi-tropical plants, which are particularly vulnerable to frost.
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Understanding Freeze Damage and Its Impact on Plants
“The most common freeze threat we face in southeast Texas is what we call a marginal freeze,” says Birge. “This occurs when temperatures drop just below freezing overnight but warm up by mid-morning, often causing damage to buds, blooms, and fruit trees."
Freeze damage happens when water inside the plant’s cells freezes, forming ice crystals that puncture the cell walls. Once temperatures rise, the cells lose their fluids, resulting in mushy, brown leaves and stems. Birge stresses the importance of taking action early, especially in anticipation of sudden cold fronts.
Protecting Plants: Tenting and Covering Methods
As temperatures drop, it’s essential to cover vulnerable plants to trap heat and prevent radiation into the cold night sky. Birge suggests using materials like plastic, sheets, tarps, or blankets to create a tent around the plant. “The key is to use the covering like a tent – with the ends dropping to the ground,” she advises. “This method will help capture heat radiating up from the ground, giving your plants a fighting chance against the freeze.”
(Source: FBMG)Birge also emphasizes that wind can be a major issue during freezes, so it’s important to anchor your tent securely with bricks, water buckets, or stakes. For additional warmth, she recommends placing old-fashioned C9 Christmas lights around the plant. “Be cautious with space heaters or lights,” she cautions. “They can be helpful, but make sure to monitor them closely to avoid fire hazards.”
Watering and Using Heat Sources
“Watering your plants before a freeze may seem counterintuitive, but it’s actually one of the most effective ways to protect them,” Birge notes. “Plants that are dehydrated are more susceptible to freeze damage.” Water stores heat from the sun during the day and slowly releases it overnight. Watering ahead of a freeze provides a source of warmth, which can help mitigate the effects of cold temperatures.
Birge recommends filling 5-gallon buckets or large trash cans with water and placing them around the base of vulnerable trees, especially grafted plants. “This will help protect the graft union, which is often the most sensitive part of the plant,” she explains.
Additional Strategies: Banking, Insulation, and Timing
Another protective method is banking soil around the trunks of grafted trees. “This helps insulate the trunk and graft union from the cold,” says Birge. “But it’s important to use soil, not mulch or leaves, as they won’t provide the necessary warmth.”
For insulation, Birge advises using fiberglass sheets around plants before the freeze. This can help prevent ice from forming in the cells. However, she cautions, “Make sure to remove the insulation once the freeze has passed to avoid overheating the plant.”
Finally, Birge stresses the importance of timing. “A sudden, sharp temperature drop is much more damaging than a gradual cooling,” she explains. “That’s why it’s important to prepare ahead of time, especially when a severe storm like the Nor’easter is expected.”
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Wrapping It All Up: Plan Ahead for Freeze Protection
As historic winter storms continue to impact southeast Texas, it’s critical for gardeners to implement these protective measures to minimize freeze damage. Deborah Birge advises gardeners to be proactive, have their materials on hand, and prepare their plants as soon as a cold snap is predicted.
“Don’t wait until the freeze hits,” Birge warns. “Early preparation can make all the difference in preserving your plants through the winter and ensuring they thrive come spring.”
By following these expert tips and using freeze protection strategies like tenting, watering, and insulating, Fort Bend County residents can protect their plants from the harsh cold and help them recover when temperatures rise.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
