Make a Freeze Plan Now. Texas A&M Experts on Protecting Plants, Hoses and Pipes Before the First Cold Snap

Texas weather rarely eases into winter. A warm week can be followed by a hard freeze, and the gardeners who come through with the least damage are usually the ones who planned ahead.

"Now is the time gardeners need to be thinking about their cold protection plan," Larry Stein, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulture specialist in Uvalde, told AgriLife Today in a November gardening guide.

Why plants suffer

When water inside a plant's cells freezes, ice crystals form and damage the cells. Frost usually hits only the top or outermost part of a plant, but a freeze can kill the whole plant, AgriLife explains.

Even plants that have done well for years may be under extra stress from a hot, dry summer, insects or disease. It pays to know how hardy your plants are and whether they suit your part of Texas.

Water first

From the Rio Grande Valley to the Panhandle, cold protection varies by region, but watering thoroughly is always the first step, said Mike Arnold, a Texas A&M horticulture professor and director of The Gardens at Texas A&M University, in a winter-weather guide from AgriLife.

"Well-watered plants survive freezes better than drought-stressed ones," Arnold said. "Moist soil freezes more slowly, providing insulation during sudden temperature drops."

Arnold's checklist before a freeze

Drain and cover. Drain irrigation systems, unhook hoses and cover hose bibs.

Mulch. Spread 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch to protect roots. Stein adds that fallen leaves can be shredded with a lawnmower and used as mulch for the same trees they came from, or added to the compost pile. Some insects overwinter in leaf litter.

Cover. Put frost cloths or blankets over plants that cold can damage. Potted plants outside can be grouped and covered together, and some may need to come inside.

Add gentle heat. For very cold-sensitive plants such as citrus, place old-style holiday lights under the frost cloth. Keep the lights from touching the cloth to avoid a fire.

Uncover. Remove covers once temperatures rise above freezing so plants do not overheat.

Don't rush the pruning

Arnold advises leaving dead growth on perennials, bananas, palms and many woody plants until late winter or early spring. Pruning too early can lead to freeze damage. "Be patient. Learn to love ugly," he said. Stein's guide says late December through February is usually the best time to prune woody plants.

Pipes and tools

Joel Pigg, an AgriLife Extension program specialist who coordinates the Texas Well Owner Network, said pipe insulation is one of the most important and most often overlooked winter jobs. "It's always cheaper to prepare and prevent than to fix things," he said.

Buy pipe wrap and heat tape early, because they often sell out once freeze warnings go out. Wrap pipes, especially in attics and exterior walls, insulate well houses and shield pipes from wind. Pigg recommends preparing in October or November and keeping protections in place through March or April, since most Texas freezes hit between late January and February.

For gas-powered yard tools, Stein suggests draining the gas and running the engine until the carburetor is empty, unless you have switched to ethanol-free fuel. Drain and store hoses where you can still reach them, because lawns and plants may need water during a long dry spell.

Plant for the season, too

Fall is also a good time to plant cool-season greens, pansies and ornamental kale, Stein says. Our look at what Corpus Christi gardeners can still plant has more.

Good stewardship of a yard, like most things, comes down to small, faithful work done before it is needed. An hour this weekend can save a citrus tree, a water line and a lot of money in February.