Stop Doing This! The Garden Guy’s Warning for Houston Gardeners
Stop Doing This! The Garden Guy’s Warning for Houston Gardeners
After a freeze, it’s tempting to rush outside and start “fixing” your plants, but some actions can cause more harm than good. Here’s what you should never do after a freeze:
1. Don’t Prune Immediately
Resist the urge to trim away brown or damaged leaves and stems right after a freeze.
Early pruning can expose plants to more stress if another freeze happens or if they’re still recovering.
What to Do Instead: Wait for signs of new growth or warmer weather before trimming back dead material.
2. Don’t Fertilize Right Away
Applying fertilizer too soon can force plants to grow when they’re still stressed and weak from the cold.
What to Do Instead: Give your plants time to recover naturally and only fertilize lightly after they show signs of recovery.
3. Don’t Assume a Plant is Dead
Many plants may appear lifeless, but their roots could still be alive and capable of regrowth.
What to Do Instead: Check for green tissue under the bark or look for new growth at the base before removing the plant.
4. Don’t Leave Plants Covered Too Long
Leaving frost cloths or plastic on during sunny weather can overheat plants and cause additional damage.
What to Do Instead: Remove coverings as soon as the sun comes out or temperatures rise above freezing.
5. Don’t Forget to Water
Freezing temperatures can dry out soil, leaving plants dehydrated.
What to Do Instead: Water deeply once the ground has thawed to help plants recover and hydrate their roots.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can give your plants the best chance to bounce back and thrive after a freeze. Be patient and let nature do its work!
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