If you get caught off guard, or we have record breaking lows, and your plant suffer from a freeze, BE PATIENT, don’t go for the pruner and start cutting everything back. This kind of damage is irreversible with most tropicals. In extended freezing temperatures, ice will form in the plant cell and the cells rupture causing damage to the plant tissue. If this happens plant recovery is unlikely, or it may take several growing seasons to recover. Additionally they may turn for green to brown or purple, and stem splitting may happen. On tropical and sub tropicals they may appear droopy or shriveled, like they are in need of water. The signs of of freeze damage are evident on many plants but do not always look the same. Even plants that are considered winter hardy in our zone (and even colder zones) can quickly show significant damage from these extreme temperatures, and wind chill factors. Here is a link to a Plant Hardiness Zone map for reference. Almost every year, we have experienced weather that has been in the 7a to 6b Zones, with actual temperatures reaching into the single digits and wind gusts over 30 MPH, taking feels-like temperatures into the negative range. Each plant has a zone that it should be hardy in Little Rock is Zone 8a, which has an Average Annual Extreme Minimum Temperature of 10-15☏. You may have noticed zones printed on plant tags and signs. They are brittle when ice covered and more likely to break. Avoid trying to remove ice from plant branches. Ice is a different story, and unfortunately, can be much more difficult to trouble shoot. However, snow can act as an insulator, protecting plant roots and even lower limbs so it’s not always a bad thing! Evergreens tend to experience this more snow usually safely goes through bare branches just fine. When it is safe, try to knock snow off bending branches. Support blankets or take them off during snowfall to avoid plant breakage.ĭuring a heavy snow event, plant branches may get weighed down and begin to bend or even break. You may have to remove the covering for a period of time and the recover if another freeze is about to happen. If you cover plants, remember to keep an eye on them during warm days, so as not to overheat them with the covering. Plants in pots are more susceptible to damage than ones planted in the ground. Keep in mind that newly planted shrubs and trees might experience more freeze damage than older, healthy plants with a more established root system. Keeping your plants healthy and happy year round also helps reduce winter damage. Here is a link to our Freeze Warning post with extensive preparation tips. Let’s go back to the ‘before’ for a minute.
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