Preparing for the Winter Storm: Essential Tips to Keep Plants Healthy

With the winter storm approaching, it’s important that we protect people, pets, pipes and plants!

With temperatures dropping, container plants should be brought indoors if possible. If not, move them to your carport, garage or patio and cover with breathable fabric like sheets or blankets. You should thoroughly water landscaping plants and shrubs before the freeze if the soil is dry. For plants growing in the ground, mulch them with a loose, dry material such as pine straw or leaves. Mulches will only protect what they cover and are best used to protect below-ground parts and crowns. These plants should also be protected by covering. The covering should extend to the ground and be sealed. It may be necessary to prune back large plants to make them more practical to cover. For severe freezes like those expected this week, providing a heat source under the covering helps. A safe, easy way to do this is to generously wrap or drape the plant with small outdoor Christmas lights. The lights provide heat but do not get hot enough to burn the plant or the cover.

After the freeze, check your plants for damage. Remember that some plants may take days or weeks to show signs of damage and shouldn’t be pruned until the Spring. 

Contact us if you need any help! Stay safe!