It’s hard to believe we’re already nearing the end of February! As we head into our second growing season, Mother Nature continues to keep us on our toes. Winter weather in Texas is anything but predictable, and over the past two seasons, we’ve learned a few valuable lessons about keeping native seedlings and potted plants safe during cold snaps.
Today, I want to share some of those lessons—hopefully, they’ll save you from a few headaches (and frozen plants) along the way!
1. Create a Winter Kit
When cold weather rolls in, scrambling for supplies is the last thing you want to do. We’ve learned to keep a winter kit stocked and ready to go. Ours includes:
Bungee cords and sandbags (because winter fronts always bring wind)
Cover cloth—anything from old bedding and scrap greenhouse plastic to frost fabric
Infrared heaters—this was a game-changer for us this year, helping prevent tissue damage in seedlings and tender plants like salvia when temps dropped into the 20s.
Having these items within arm’s reach makes all the difference when a freeze warning pops up.
2. Know the Pattern: Wind, Wet, Winter!
Here in Texas, cold fronts typically arrive with a strong northeasterly wind and intermittent rain before the real temperature drop sets in. That wind can wreak havoc if you’re not ready for it!
When I first started out, I focused on protecting plants from the cold but underestimated the power of the wind. Our original greenhouse was oriented north-south, and a 40 mph gust peeled the plastic back like a can opener. It was a scramble—we tucked tender seedlings under tables and threw together a makeshift greenhouse using scrap plastic and sandbags. It worked (thankfully!), and now we’ve adjusted our greenhouse orientation and reinforce our frost covers ahead of time with bungee cords and weights. Lesson learned!
3. Deeply Water Before a Freeze
One of the best pieces of advice I ever received came from my time working as a gardener at Memorial Park: Water deeply before shutting off the faucets.
It might seem counterintuitive, but hear me out. When the water in the soil freezes, it helps maintain a stable temperature around 32°F, which protects plant roots from sudden temperature drops. I’ve followed this trick ever since, and it’s made a noticeable difference in plant survival.
4. Replenish at the Right Time
While optional, timing your fertilization can make a big difference. Applying a potassium-rich fertilizer in the fall helps strengthen root systems, giving plants a better chance to recover quickly after winter dormancy. Just be sure to do it early enough—fertilizing too close to the first frost can encourage tender new growth that’s vulnerable to cold damage. We aim to fertilize no later than a week before the first freeze.
In addition to fertilizing, we refresh our potted plants by adding a layer of soil or compost in December before storing them for the winter. This extra insulation helps protect the roots from temperature extremes and sets the plants up for a strong start in spring.
5. Follow Mother Nature’s Lead Post-Freeze
One of the best lessons I’ve learned? Pay attention to what nature does after a freeze.
Typically, after a freeze, we see rain, followed by a quick warm-up. I try to mimic that pattern when caring for plants—removing covers to let them soak up rainwater and then preparing for the stress of warmer temperatures. Sticking to nature’s rhythm has helped plants recover better than any strict schedule ever could.
I hope you find these tips helpful! If you’ve got your own winter prep tricks or have any questions, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at hello@sycamorehillnursery.com or find us on social media. Here’s to surviving (and thriving through) another Texas winter!
Comments