Winterin North America is typically an uneventful fourth dimension of twelvemonth for plants , when maturate slows or Newmarket and when most plants go hibernating . Because of that , middling winter weather has very little negative wallop on a landscape painting ’s health . Extreme wintertime weather unusual person , however , can do some serious damage . Heavier than average precipitation , significant and sudden drops in temperature , longer than normal durations of freezing temperature and winds — these occurrences can hurt , if not soberly harm , our rate flora .
Expect the unexpected
If there is one thing we can count on about uttermost winter conditions , it is that such weather is unpredictable but certain . It will materialize at some point — we just do n’t know when . The South and southeastern United States was reminded of this during the 2022 holiday time of year when a doozy of a storm blew in that will not soon be leave . The wind and cold temperatures packed a punch for our power grids and landscapes over the Christmas weekend . The weather condition effect presented itself as a 40 ° F to 50 ° F drop in much of the region from the evening of December 22 through the following morning . Temperatures plummeted to as low as – 5 ° F . In many places , this rapid drib was accompanied by blusterous wind and sustained temperatures below 15 ° F for at least 32 hours . to boot , temperature in many areas did n’t lift above 32 ° F for more than 80 60 minutes .
This cocktail of wintertime weather result in freeze damage in the form of ice organisation within plants , which irrevocably fractured cell wall . to boot , the rapid temperature drop-off meant that plants were less able-bodied to implement internal defense measure to tolerate broken - temperature emphasis . Wind also contributed to the hurt by desiccating ( think freeze - drying ) evergreen plants .
Which plants are at the greatest risk?
Most plant damage by extreme weather events are evergreen woody plants such as coniferous tree and broadleaf evergreens . During the aforementioned storm , however , deciduous flora such as chaste Tree ( Vitexagnus - castusand cvs . , Zones 6–9 ) , fig ( Ficusspp . and cvs . , Zones 6–9 ) , Japanese maple ( Acerpalmatumand cvs . , Zones 5–8 ) , edgeworthias ( Edgeworthiachrysanthaand CV . , Zones 7–10 ) , and some crape myrtles ( Lagerstroemiaspp . and cvs . , Zones 6–9 ) also sustained major scathe to their stem and trunks . Low temperature can be especially harmful to woody plants considered scantily or marginally hardy in a specific zone . illustration in Tennessee ( Zones 6a–7b ) let in camellias ( Camelliaspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–9 ) , Chinese interference fringe flowers ( Loropetalumchinenseand cvs . , Zones 7–11 ) , and osmanthus ( Osmanthusspp . and cvs . , Zones 7–11 ) . However , flora that are hardier in more northerly regions also keep major , if not ruinous , price from this tempest ; these included Turkish boxwood ( Buxusspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–9 ) , Japanese cedar ( Cryptomeriaspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–9 ) , and azaleas ( Rhododendronspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–8 ) .
How to recognize and mitigate damage
“ Burnt ” ( that is , brown ) leaf of evergreen plants follow winter weather exposure is easy to recognize , as is breakage from snow or ice loads . However , since winter price happens when plants are not actively growing , it may take several months before the extent of some damage is apparent . Close review during the 2023 raise season in Tennessee revealed that some plants had separate , cracked , or flake barque from their ramification and/or trunk as a result of the 2022 winter tempest . Because this type of damage permanently break up a plant ’s power to move urine from the roots to the leaves , plants with this type of injury require the removal of the damage branches or trunks .
Multistemmed plants such as figs , edgeworthias , chaste trees , crepe myrtles , and Taiwanese outskirt flowers were among those that suffered such damage , but they have the ability to altogether rectify from their ancestor systems . For that reason , trim them down to near the ground and letting them regrow is a childlike response . Unfortunately , some primarily individual - trunked plants , such as Nipponese maples and some coniferous tree , typically will not regenerate from their roots or base of their trunk after freeze wrong occurs and will become a total passing . alike , plants such as Leyland cypress tree ( ×Hesperotropsis leylandiiand cvs . , Zones 6–10 ) that are not shoot down in a flash by a major winter consequence do not regenerate new branches from the trunk or roots and will probably never reckon attractive again . In this eccentric , the plant should be get rid of . However , plants are amazingly live , and it is worth waiting and come across before yanking a damaged one out . No matter the type of freeze damage , often it is best to expect to take action until early spring , when active growth is underway , so that you’re able to determine what survived , cut back to new growth , and remove the dead or extensively damage branches and short pants or lose - causal agency plants altogether .
5 ways to prevent or minimize winter storm damage
Other than maybe grow your plants in a bio - domed stadium , there is no foolproof way of life to preclude wintertime damage . However , there are some scheme you may use to aid minimize combat injury to your precious plants .
1. Mulch
check that your industrial plant are mulch in fall . The mulch serves as a blanket of insulating material protect the root zone from sudden changes in temperature . It also prevents fall - planted plants from heave up out of the grease during abbreviated winter freeze - thaw round .
2. Water
Well - hydrated plants are better off any fourth dimension of twelvemonth , include during winter . This is particularly dependable of evergreen plant plant life . When the ground suspend , plant can not take up water ; desiccation can then occur due to lack of urine in the plant life ’ tissue . Watering well in fall before the ground freezes can be a lifesaver for your plants . With the exception of a handful of industrial plant , most specie do better in well - drain grease . Be sure your plant are in a well - drained situation , as pitiable drainage can affect a plant ’s winter hardiness .
3. Shelter
If you live in an area where the ground freezes for an prolonged stop of time in winter , consider supply your broadleaf evergreens with some eccentric of shield from the tip . Wrapping plants such as boxwoods in burlap or spraying them with an anti - desiccant such as Wilt Pruf or Wilt Stop ( according to label directions , of form ) can make a immense difference in minimizing winter scathe .
4. Relocate
Container - grown plant can be act into a garden shed , enclosed service department , or other sheltered positioning for protection from wind and cold temperatures . These bit are often several degree tender than outside . When placing plant in an attached enclosed garage , you’re able to gain even a little more heat protection by put the plant life against the wall that also attend to as an internal wall of the household on the other side .
5. Pause maintenance
Pruning stimulates new growing on plants . To keep fresh growth from being exposed to prejudicious wintertime weather , avoid pruning five to six weeks before your first frost date . After plants go whole dormant , light pruning can be done if necessary but is best done in late wintertime or former spring to avoid candid wounds all wintertime long . also , plants should not be fecundate any later in the grow season than five to six weeks before the ordinary first frost date . ( For many areas , that would be by the destruction of August . ) New industrial plant growth take time to mature and harden off before the cold weather condition hits .
Contributing editor Jason Reeves is curator of the University of Tennessee Gardens in Jackson .
Fine Gardening commend intersection
VegTrug Classic Cold Frame
ok Gardening receive a mission for items purchased through link on this situation , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising political program .
Gardener ’s Supply Company Summerweight Fabric Plant Cover
Sun Joe Cordless Telescoping Pole Chain Saw
Get our latest tips , how - to articles , and instructional television place to your inbox .
Signing you up …
Related Articles
Preventing Winter Salt Damage
Preventing Winter Damage in the Garden
Preventing and Repairing Winter Damage
Step 2 In Preventing Winter Damage To Your Roses
Join Fine Gardening for a free absorb resilient webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned works pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical manager …
When I spotted a particular George Sand buck cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delightful colour pattern …
When we only prioritize plants we require over works our landscape demand , each season is filled with a never - end listing of chores : pruning , abstract , watering , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …
Subscribe today and save up to 47%
Video
Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat
You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden graphic designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …
4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder’s Garden
Episode 181: Plants You Can’t Kill
Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage
4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard
All Access members get more
Sign up for afree trialand get access to ALL our regional mental object , plus the rest of the phallus - only mental object program library .
Start Free Trial
Get complete website access to expert advice , regional content , and more , plus the print cartridge holder .
Start your FREE test
Already a member?sign in
Photo: Jennifer Benner
Photo: Jennifer Benner
Big, sudden temperature drops can mean trouble.When the mercury plummets fast and significantly, plants don’t have time to acclimate. This can cause cell rupturing, which shows up as leaf or needle damage (above) and bark or trunk splitting (below).Photo: courtesy of Petr Kapitola, Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture/bugwood.org
Ice happens, and that’s OK.Don’t panic at the onset of every storm. Plants that are indigenous or hardy to a region can handle typical ice coverage in winter. Besides, ice looks rather pretty glistening on dormant stems and evergreen boughs.Photo: courtesy of Jason Reeves
Japanese cedar.Photo: courtesy of the University of Tennessee
Evergreen woody plants are particularly susceptible to winter damage.Plants such as boxwood, osmanthus, and Japanese cedar can experience various degrees of damage depending on the duration of the extreme weather exposure. Steep temperature drops are not the only culprits, however; wind can also cause desiccation damage.Photo: courtesy of the University of Tennessee
Avoid planting woody evergreens in late fall.Trees and shrubs planted late in the growing season have little time to become established before winter. You can prevent putting additional stress on newly planted plants, and possible winter damage or death, by planting them in early spring.Photo: courtesy of Joseph O’Brien,USDA Forest Service/bugwood.org
Anti-desiccant mix.Photo: Steve Aitken
Burlap wrap.Photo: courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden
