Cold damage to your lawn typically happens when conditions are both cold and dry. While we experienced a somewhat dry fall and early winter, last week’s rainfall has provided just enough moisture to keep your grass protected. The good news? More rain is expected this Sunday and Monday, giving your lawn a helpful drink before the cold sets in.
So, do turfgrass managers and homeowners need to do anything to prepare lawns for a January cold snap? Simply stated “No”. However, there are some things you should avoid. Avoid watering your lawn when temperatures are below freezing. While irrigation might help protect some crops (like strawberries) from freezing, your lawn doesn't need this, and too much water can harm the root system. This advice applies to both warm-season grasses (like Bermuda) and cool-season grasses (like tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass.
Lastly, there's no need to fertilize your lawn in preparation for the cold. Right now, both warm- and cool-season grasses aren't actively growing, which means they won’t absorb nutrients. Fertilizing at this time will likely just waste your money, as the nutrients will wash away without being used. Luckily, your dormant lawn is strong enough to handle the cold weather without any extra help.
Ornamentals and Seasonal Color
As the cold weather sets in, there’s little we can do to stop it, but there are a few steps you can take to protect your ornamental plants and keep your garden looking great through the winter.
Ornamental plants adapt to colder temperatures overtime. However, sudden freezes after warm weather can still cause damage, especially to the fruits and roots of plants.The good news is, with the right plant choices and placement, you can minimize cold damage. Trees, buildings, and other structures provide natural protection, and new plantings should always have a thick layer of mulch to help insulate them from the cold.
Hand-watering your ornamental plants before a freeze can help protect them, but avoid using irrigation systems as they should be drained and shut off for winter. Thankfully, recent rain and the upcoming forecast will help keep the soil moist, which is key to protecting your plants. Wet soil absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night, keeping the area around your plants warmer. However, once the water in the soil freezes, the temperature will continue to drop, so take precautions!
Plants in containers are especially vulnerable to the cold. If possible, move them to a sheltered spot, or group them together and cover them with mulch to minimize heat loss.Covering plants can help protect them from frost, and using covers that extend to the ground without touching the plants is most effective. You can even place holiday lights under the cover to add a little extra warmth!
After a freeze, take time to assess the damage, but don’t rush to prune your plants. You can remove brown leaves right away, but wait until you see new growth before doing any heavy pruning. This ensures you aren’t cutting away live wood or further weakening the plant’s reserves. Sometimes, cold damage isn’t immediately visible, and it may takeweeks or even months to fully show. For woody plants, a blackened layer under the bark or a lack of new spring growth could indicate serious damage.
By learning to anticipate potential cold-related problems, you can protect your plants more effectively. Last winter, many shrubs and trees were damaged by the cold. While some recovered by mid-summer, others didn’t make it, especially those that were pruned too hard, like Indian hawthorns and some crape myrtles. Plants that were weakened from previous damage are more sensitive to this winter’s cold. Make a note of any weakened plants and check them again in late spring to determine if they need to be replaced.
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