Freeze-Damaged Plants? Here’s How to Save Them After Winter Storm Enzo
Winter Storm Enzo has left a trail of freeze-damaged plants across Greater Houston, with many residents wondering how to restore their gardens. Experts at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recommend patience and caution before tackling cleanup, as premature pruning or removal could cause more harm than good.
Michael Arnold, Ph.D., director of The Gardens at Texas A&M University, explains that while freeze-damaged plants may look unsightly, rushing to prune them could expose live tissue to future frost or stimulate growth too early. "That dead material may look ugly, but it is Mother Nature’s insulation," Arnold said. "Cutting plants back too soon can harm more than help."
Arnold notes that plants like banana trees, palms, and herbaceous perennials often appear dead after a hard freeze—defined as temperatures below 28°F for four hours or more. However, these plants might recover as they break dormancy in the spring. Pruning should ideally wait until after the final frost, which varies from late January in southern areas to March in northern parts of Texas.
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High-value plants and trees should be given extra time to show signs of life. If live tissue remains in the crown or below the soil, the plant has a good chance of survival. “You don’t want to pull up plants just because they look dead,” Arnold said. “If there is live tissue, they are likely to recover.”
Residents are encouraged to assess their gardens carefully and wait for warmer spring temperatures before making any significant decisions. For now, patience is key to helping plants recover fully.
For additional resources on plant recovery and gardening tips, visit Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Have gardening questions? Master Gardener Volunteers can help! In Harris County, residents can submit an inquiry online to the Harris County Master Gardeners' Help Desk at txmg.org/hcmga/ask-a-question. Fort Bend County residents can email for Fort Bend County Master Gardeners' Hotline at FortBendmg@ag.tamu.edu, or call 281-341-7068 (the line is manned Monday thru Friday from 9am-Noon).
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.
