Preventing Freeze Damage

Sandie:

Well, we are in Houston and we do have freezes occasionally. So we want to take care of our landscaping for sure, it’s a big investment. And I’m here with Isaac from Spring Gardens Nursery. Thank you for being here.

Isaac:

No problem.

Sandie:

And we’re going to talk a little bit about how to take care of and prevent any freeze damage from our landscaping. So we’ve had summer, now you can have winter overnight.

Isaac:

Right.

Sandie:

A freeze overnight. So let’s be prepared, because that’s a key, I think, in protecting our plants and landscaping outside. So I hear on the weather, we’re going to have a freeze. What do I do?

Isaac:

Right. The first thing I would do is make sure that all your plants are mulched, and make sure the root balls are covered. Make sure you don’t have any roots that are exposed. I would probably put two to four inches to make sure your roots are covered. You don’t want to put it up on the plant, you don’t want to cover any leaves or anything, you just want to cover the roots. Two to four inches, a nice blanket.

Sandie:

Good. Okay.

Isaac:

To help keep it insulated and protected from the freeze.

Sandie:

So have mulch. Be ready with the mulch.

Isaac:

Right, mm-hmm.

Sandie:

Okay. And then we’ve got that freeze coming. What do we do?

Isaac:

Make sure your plants are watered well.

Sandie:

Nice. All right, so that they’re ready to fight the freeze.

Isaac:

Right. Make sure they have moisture.

Sandie:

Okay.

Isaac:

And then if we know that there’s going to be a freeze, then we want to put this frost blanket.

Sandie:

Okay. And we suggest you get those now.

Isaac:

Yes.

Sandie:

Don’t wait until the weatherman tells us there’s a freeze. Have these in here-

Isaac:

Right, because they go quick.

Sandie:

Yeah, have them ready. And then you’ve got these wonderful steaks that I need to purchase. Because I’ll go outside and…

Isaac:

[inaudible 00:01:39] staples.

Sandie:

… they’ve already been blown off.

Isaac:

Yeah.

Sandie:

Okay, so this is a great way to keep your cloth over your landscaping. Now obviously this is a potted plant, and if you’ve got those on your patio, bring them inside. But this is for landscaping outside, just throw the cloths over there. So the two things to prevent damage to our landscaping, mulch around like a blanket, and then add the frost cloth.

Isaac:

Yes.

Sandie:

Great. Well, thank you Isaac from Spring Gardens Nursery. And this is Home Show Garden Pros. For more information on landscaping, check us out.