Landscaping steps you can take before winter to keep your plants safe
Although the weather doesn’t often become frigid in San Antonio, temperatures can dip low enough to threaten the vegetation around your yard. Without proper preparation, this could mean losing the beautiful landscape you’ve worked so hard to maintain.
The Dangers of Frost
When plants are subject to freezing temperatures, ice crystals form inside their cells. This disrupts the flow of fluid and nutrients, causing leaves to shrivel. Sometimes the moisture in the air condenses on the plants and freezes on the surface, creating the same detrimental effect. The temperature at which vegetation freezes is measured with a hardiness rating and differs from plant to plant.
Covering Plants
Keeping plants covered on chilly nights works to combat the effects of frost. If the freeze is mild, a sheet or a blanket should do the job. When it gets colder, add a layer of plastic on top of this insulation. Avoid using only plastic, as this may lead to moisture buildup inside the covering. Fabric covers are the best as they allow air to flow while preventing water from freezing.
Mulching is another way to keep plants safe during a cold snap. Cover low plants entirely to protect them and mulch well around the roots of taller vegetation to keep the soil warm and moist. This protects the roots and maintains their health so even if the plant is damaged by frost, it still has a source of nutrients to help it bounce back come springtime.
Care After a Freeze
It’s not always possible to avoid landscape damage in cold temperatures, especially during a prolonged freeze. Damaged plants should be watered lightly to keep the soil around the roots moist and covered again each night during the cold weather. Inspect the foliage to determine the extent of the loss, but don’t trim off the dead leaves and branches just yet. Pruning encourages new growth which can easily die off should another round of cold weather come through. Instead, continue to cover the plants at night and wait to break out the pruning shears until the last threat of frost has passed.
If you find yourself facing frost-damaged plants after the winter, contact us at ABC Home & Commercial Services. We’ll send out our specialists to bring your lawn, trees and shrubs back to life once spring rolls around. You can trust ABC to take care of all your landscaping needs from after a freeze right through until next winter.