PROTECTING TREES FROM WINTER FREEZE

Winter is another harsh climatic condition in some parts of the globe, as well protecting ourselves and property, we need to make sure to care for our trees and plants. 

Extreme temperatures below 32 degrees sustained over some period of time are cold enough to freeze your trees' buds/blossoms, fruits, leaves and/or twigs. Trees most likely to be damaged by freeze include Citrus, Jacaranda, Catalpa, Oleander, Eugenia and other tropical/subtropical plants.

These two actions are most important before harsh winter: 

1. Protect your trees and plants by covering them with burlap, sheets, tarps, etc., that extend to the ground to trap in the earth’s accumulated warmth. Use a frame or stakes to minimize contact between the cover and the foliage.
2. Keep plants well-watered.  

How to plan ahead when expecting extreme cold weather: 

• Remove turf/weeds from under trees’ canopies since bare soil absorbs and reflects heat best. Wood chip mulch prevents soil moisture loss and insulates roots.
• Plant frost-sensitive plants near sources of reflective heat (like buildings, walls, etc).

How to help trees recover after freeze: 

• Do not prune anything off immediately. Wait to see what sprouts in the spring; the damage is often not nearly as bad as it initially looks, and new growth may come out of tissue that you thought was dead.
• If the effects are severe enough and your tree has lost “shade,” protect the now-unshaded portions of the trunk/branches from the sun, with a physical cover or with whitewash (1:1 ratio of latex paint and water).
• Remove frosted/mushy fruit while still salvageable, for snacking on or juicing.