When freezing temperatures hit, even the healthiest garden can suffer. You might wake up to wilted leaves, blackened stems, or plants that look beyond saving.
The good news is that most of those plants can recover with time and proper care. By assessing the damage, watering properly, applying mulch, and pruning dead material once temperatures rise, you can help your garden bounce back.
When all is said and done, though, growing plants is easier than nursing damaged ones back to life. Need help? Consider using a pro.
Assess the damage
When temperatures climb above freezing, inspect the plants to see how much damage has been done. Check for these signs:
- Discolored leaves: Cold-damaged leaves turn black, brown, or translucent before dying. This indicates that the cells within the leaves have been damaged by freezing temperatures.
- Mushy stems: Gently squeeze the stems. If they feel soft or water-soaked, that part of the plant has died.
- Wilting foliage: When the water inside plant cells freezes, the leaves wilt. As the temperatures improve, the affected leaves might return to their normal shape.
- Splitting bark: Sudden temperature drops can cause bark on trees and shrubs to crack.
- Bud damage: Buds of flowering plants are highly susceptible to frost damage. If they turn brown, black, or fall off, it’s a clear sign of frost damage.
At first glance, the damage may look worse than it actually is. Don’t worry, most plants only suffer surface-level injury and remain healthy at their roots. Just wait for temperatures to improve and for plants to show signs of new growth.
Anthony T. Bowden, assistant professor and ornamental extension specialist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, says it can take days, weeks, or even months for freeze damage to reveal itself.
“There are a couple of tricks you can use to test if your plant is still alive. The first is the scratch test, which involves gently scraping a small section of bark or stem. If the tissue underneath is green and moist, the plant is still viable. Brown or brittle tissue indicates that part of the plant is dead.”
Living plant stems will bend slightly, while dead stems snap easily with very little force, Bowden says.
Finally, look for new growth in the spring. If it sprouts new leaves or buds in spring, it’s still alive. However, if no new growth appears by mid to late spring, that stem tissue is probably dead and can be pruned back.
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Wait before pruning
It’s tempting to grab your shears and cut off all the dead leaves, but pruning too early can do more harm than good. You’ll end up exposing other soft tissues of the plant to harsh weather conditions. Dead leaves and stems actually insulate and protect the rest of the plant from damage.
Eddie M. L. Smith, extension agent and county coordinator with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, says, “Plant parts damaged by cold should not be removed until the spring. The plant material helps protect the plant from future cold damage during the winter.”
Wait until the danger of frost has passed and you see new growth before starting the actual recovery process. You can check the last frost by entering your ZIP code on the National Gardening Association website. Note, though, that the actual date differs every year.
Small green shoots or buds are a good sign that the plant is bouncing back. Pruning after new growth ensures you remove truly dead material and give your plants the best chance to recover.
Move potted plants indoors
If the freeze has already hit, bring the potted plants inside as soon as it’s safe to move them. Avoid placing them in a room that’s too warm, as the sudden temperature change can shock the plants. Let them gradually adjust to indoor conditions, water as needed, and check for signs of damage once they have thawed.
If a freeze is in the forecast, move potted pots to an enclosed porch or garage before a hard freeze to prevent damage.
Cover sensitive in-ground plants with a plastic plant cover or fabric at night and remove it in the morning. Don’t place the plastic or fabric directly on sensitive plants. Instead, use stakes or some framework to tent the plants.
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Water the plants
Cold-damaged plants need water to recover. A freeze robs their tissues or moisture, and watering helps them rehydrate.
However, you shouldn’t water immediately after a freeze. Bowden advises, “Water only if the soil is dry and there’s no longer a threat of freezing temperatures. The main goal after a freeze is to let plants gradually thaw out. Watering frozen soil or ice-covered foliage can worsen any damage by promoting further freezing.
“Once temperatures rise above freezing and the ground is workable, light water can help rehydrate plants, especially if cold winds and dry air have caused them to dry out. Avoid heavy watering until plants begin showing signs of recovery.”
When you water, do it late in the morning after a freeze. Saturate the entire root system with about an inch of water, but don’t water the foliage, as it can compound the damage.
It’s best to water deeply but infrequently. Watering once every two weeks is usually enough during the dormant season. Use lukewarm water to avoid shocking the roots.
Apply mulch
Mulch is a natural blanket that protects roots and stabilizes soil temperatures as your plants recover. As it breaks down, mulch also adds organic matter back into the soil. Apply it once temperatures rise above freezing and the soil has thawed slightly.
Use organic mulch like shredded bark, pine needles, straw, or compost. Apply 2 to 3 inches for flower beds and perennials, and 6 to 7 inches around trees and shrubs. Keep the mulch about 3 inches away from the base or trunk to prevent rot and pests.
Read related:
- What Are the Different Types of Mulch?
- How to Mulch
- How to Mulch Around Trees
- Benefits of Mulch
- How Often Should You Replace Mulch?
Remove dead material
After the frost season ends and new growth begins, you can remove dead leaves, stems, and flowers from your plants. Some plants naturally shed dead leaves and start sprouting new growth. But if you don’t see this happening, remove the dead parts manually, as decaying plant matter can harbor diseases and fungi.
Use sharp shears to cut off damaged parts just above healthy growth. For small plants, you can pinch off dead foliage with your fingers. Doing so encourages new growth and helps the plant absorb light and air.
For plants that are completely dead, remove them entirely and replace them later in spring with healthy plants. Dispose of diseased plant matter instead of composting it, as it can spread disease.
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Monitor for other issues
Smith says, “The time it takes for plants to recover after a freeze varies. Most won’t fully recover until a month or two of warmer spring temperatures.”
If the frost was severe and the plant is tender, the freeze may have impacted the roots and crown, and the plant may not recover at all. Signs of root damage include stunted growth or the plant struggling to absorb water properly.
Cold damage can leave your plants more vulnerable to pests like aphids and scale insects. It can also weaken plant tissues, making them more prone to fungal infections. If these problems occur, treat your plants with an appropriate fungicide or pesticide.
FAQs
No, you shouldn’t fertilize cold-damaged plants immediately, as it can stimulate new growth that’s too tender to handle the cold. Instead, use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the spring when the plant is actively growing again.
Frost forms ice crystals on the surface of plant leaves and stems. It happens when the air temperature is above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but plant tissues drop below freezing as they lose heat, especially at night. Frost damage is usually surface-level.
Freeze damage occurs when the temperature inside plant tissues drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The water inside the cells freezes, which can rupture them and cause more severe damage to stems and roots.
It’s possible. Even if the leaves look dead, the root system might still be alive and can regrow foliage once temperatures warm up. To check for life, gently scratch the stem, and if there’s green underneath, the plant has a chance to recover.
Revive your garden after a freeze
A freeze can be tough on your garden, but with patience and the right care, your plants can bounce back strong. If you want experienced professionals to help your garden recover, contact Lawn Love. Our pros can bring your garden back to life while you relax at home.
Lawn Love pros can also fertilize your garden once temperatures improve, mow your grass, and aerate it. Hire a pro through Lawn Love today to get the job done right at a price you’ll love.
Main Image: Bare garden plants with wooden supports. Image Credit: Jozef / Adobe Stock Free / License
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