Last year the Houston Chronicle had a great article about plant survival in freezing temperatures. Since it is almost February I was thinking I was going to get away without having to post about this but it is not to be; we are looking to have several days of frigid temperatures starting today (lows in the low to mid 20's). Here in Houston we rarely have frigid temperatures and for sure not several days in a row. I love all the tropical plants that I'm able to grow in Spring and by using what they said I saved my plants last year and plan to again this year. This year I also have a winter garden going and I sure don't want to lose my lettuce.
After reading the article I realized that I've not been going at this correctly. What you want to do is mulch, water and cover. If it has not rained you need to water first which I had to do last year but this year we have had rain. Water and mulch should be enough for certain plants. Those plants would be abelia, azalea, boxwood, eleagnus, Hawthorne, holly, ligustrum, loropetalum, mahonia, nandina, roses, wax myrtle and yaupon. After an extended freeze these shrubs will probably show foliage damage without cover but should put on new leaves in the spring.
We went the extra step covering plants with fiber row covers, sheets & blankets. This will raise the temperature a few degrees depending on the cover. For even extra protection we added a layer of heavy plastic over the cloth covers and secured it with bricks and stones. The article said not to place plastic directly on the plants. (This is where I have been going astray). My plants are again double wrapped and I feel that again I will have healthy plants after the cold snap. Of course we have moved our potted plants inside.
Do not wash frost or ice off the plants the morning after the freeze. If you wash the frost off it raises the temperature too fast and can damage the plant's cell tissue. After the frigid temperatures are over assess the damage but DO NOT prune. The freeze damaged wood will protect live wood farther down the branch (should we have more frigid temperatures).
In the spring prune to green at your normal pruning time. I have always heard mid February for pruning.
I hope this is it for our frigid weather. We have lived here 14 years and I don't ever remember covering plants this late in the season. I remember a radio commentator years ago saying we have two seasons in Houston summer and January. It looks like winter is going in to February for us this year. Hopefully this will be the last time to cover the plants.
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Copyright © 2011 Marchel Peterson, All Rights Reserved. *Cold Facts for Plant survival in Spring-Magnolia-Tomball TX!!!*
