Spring is Almost Here. Could Another Freeze Surprise Us?

February 28, 2017 | By webadmin

Mild winters like this one, as well as last year's, can sometimes lure us into a bit of "zone denial."  Plant lovers can be easily seduced by beautiful specimens that aren't necessarily cold hardy during a somewhat more typical North Texas winter with several hard freezes.

Hellebore are winter hardy perennials for North Texas.

We are now in sort of a limbo where it's uncertain whether we'll get another hard freeze. It feels like spring is already here. Shrubs and perennials planted in fall and winter have enjoyed so much warm weather that they can be particularly susceptible if a severe frost hits. The brief, but powerful freeze we got this past winter may have wiped out a few things in your landscape. Plants located in spots unprotected from high winds or not well-watered beforehand are especially sensitive.

Some Plants are Marginally Hardy

It's easy to fall in love with marginally hardy choices like sago palms, flowering jasmine and bottle brush, that are right on the edge of low temperature tolerance. Even fig ivy took a hit this winter. In order for these plants to survive a hard freeze you would have to cover them. We can save ourselves some heartbreak, however, by considering options that are both beautiful as well as reliable to make it through any winter.

What if a Late Freeze Arrives

The last official frost date for the Dallas area typically falls around mid- to late-March. However, being that this is Texas, we could get a sudden freeze in months as late as April; even if weather has been very warm up to that point. So what do you do if a late freeze hits the forecast?

• Cover marginally hardy plants with frost cloth and secure with staples or bricks. Don’t wrap cloth around trunks of trees but instead staple to the soil. This will keep not only the tree protected, but the roots, too. No frost cloth? Sheets and light blankets work in a pinch. Do not wrap plants in plastic. Remove cover during the day once temperatures reach above freezing.
• If you haven’t mulched already, add a 2-inch layer of mulch around plants to keep roots and the surrounding soil insulated.
• Water the day before a freeze. Wet soil keep roots warmer than dry soil.
• Cover newly planted perennials, trees and shrubs, tender perennials, seasonal color in containers, young vegetable transplants and shrubs that are blooming to keep the blooms and buds from freezing off the plant.

Be on the lookout for sudden freezing temperatures. Being prepared is your best defense to keeping plants safe.