Recent freezing weather may have damaged your yard plants, but not all damage is permanent.
Sarah McDonald of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences St. Lucie County Extension Office said some plants may look worse before they get better.
MacDonald said residents should consider how they handle plants after a freeze to help them recover and avoid causing more damage.
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do this
Check water needs
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Cold and windy weather can dry out plants
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Water your plants to help thaw the soil and rehydrate the roots
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Container factories may need extra attention
be patient
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After a few days or weeks, some cold damage may appear
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New spring growth will show real vigor
Don’t do this yet
Don’t be in a hurry to prune
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Avoid heavy pruning immediately after a freeze
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Premature cutting removes viable tissue and stimulates fragile new growth
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Cold stratifying seeds before sowing
Don’t fertilize
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Wait until the weather warms and active growth resumes
when you prune
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Gently scratch the bark with your fingernail
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Only prune back to healthy tissue
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Remove dead brown leaves once completely dry
What to pay attention to
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Delayed or no germination of spring buds
Some plants are slow to recover after a hard freeze – patience is key
Check your lawn
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Brown lawns after freezing are usually in a normal dormant state
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Avoid fertilizing before greening in spring
Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm’s breaking news reporter. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared in Treasure Coast Newspapers: What to do with damaged plants in your yard after Florida freezes
