Preparing for a freeze

Winterizing your backflow preventer on your sprinkler irrigation system (by HKA Texas)

Covering Plants for Winter & Other Winterizing Tips for Houston (from Plants for All Seasons Blog) 

While our winters are pretty mild here in Houston, we do tend to have a lot of tender tropical and other plants that require covering or proper winterizing to make it through until the following spring. If you have got some new additions to the garden and are unsure of how to ease them through the temperature transition, or if you have had some past winterizing mishaps that you would like to prevent from recurring, check out this guide to covering plants for winter & other winterizing tips for Houston.

Covering Plants for Winter in Houston

Since temperatures rarely dip below 40°F, and snow is rarer than the limited-edition Princess Diana Beanie Baby, we do not have to worry much about frost damaging our garden plants. That being said, there are a few more sensitive plants that need a little extra insulation from December to February, because they’re more accustomed to hot tropical weather. Tender perennial flowers, trees, shrubs, and vegetables each require slightly different accommodations during colder temperatures, so this guide should provide you with the basics of how to protect all your garden plants as things cool down outside. 

The Best Winter Crop Cover for Raised Beds

Lots of people opt to use plastic covering for raised beds because you can easily monitor the growth of your plants without removing it. However, this is not actually a stellar idea, because it can suffocate your plants if you leave it on for too long. Bedsheets are not great either, because if it rains, you will have a pretty gnarly mess to deal with. Ideally, you will want to use a high-quality insulated plant cover made especially for garden beds. 

If there are just a few more delicate plants in your raised bed among a group of tougher veggies like cabbage or kale, you can cover them with upturned buckets. This will help conserve moisture and keep them warm, especially overnight. When it is warmer during the day, you can always uncover them so they can soak up some extra sunshine.

Tree Covers for Cold Weather

If you live in an area with a lot of wind, tree covers for cold weather will help any trees that may be sensitive to damage from changing temperatures. Frost Cloth or Burlap are typically the best material to use for evergreen tree covering because they are breathable and allow for just enough air circulation to prevent mold. It is quite popular as a cover for rose bushes and shrubs as well because the material is inexpensive and pliable. Try to wrap it around from the base working upwards, with enough overlap in the material to keep air out and maintain a solid shape. Hold it in place with rope—this usually looks the most aesthetically pleasing. 

Trees with thin bark or newly planted trees that are more vulnerable to damage are better off with a plastic or specially insulated fabric cover. If you are unsure of which one to choose for, feel free to stop by the shop and we will help you find the most appropriate cover for your trees.

Winterizing Tips for Houston Gardeners

A little prep work at the beginning of the season will save you heaps of trouble in the long run. Here are a few extra tips for keeping your garden protected while the temperatures plummet:

• Bring Delicate Container Plants Indoors. More cold-hardy plants will not need to come in, though. Just gather them all up in a huddle and toss a tarp over them if you are worried about the containers getting cold and cracking. 
• Water Your Plant Roots Deeply. Water is a fantastic insulator, so if the forecast calls for a super cold night, water your garden at least one day in advance to help lock in warmth. 
• Mulch Your Garden Beds. Shredded bark mulch helps lock in moisture and heat, plus it helps block weeds from the sun so they cannot sprout up. It comes in plenty of different colors, so if you want a little extra festive touch for the holidays, sprinkle some bright red bark mulch across the soil!
• Give Your Grass Some Winter Lawn Food. Usually, lawn fertilizer is high in nitrogen to stimulate growth, but we only want that during the spring and summer. Instead, get a fertilizer that is high in potash so it will stimulate root development. This will result in stronger grass that is ready to spring into action once it gets warmer out.