Monday’s chilly weather may have you thinking about how to take care of your garden as winter approaches. We’ve got you covered:
🥶 It May Not Be Freezing Yet, but Be Prepared for When It Is.
If you have outdoor plants and vegetables, you’ll want to pay attention to the weather for more reasons than figuring out what kind of jacket to wear. When temperatures are predicted to fall below 28 degrees, you’ll need to cover your plants to protect them, officials at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension say.
Use light blankets, plastic sheets, or plant cover fabric you can find at a garden center to cover your plants at night. Make sure the blanket you’re using isn’t too heavy! You don’t want to crush your plants.
Covering plants helps them hold in heat, so during the day, take the covers off to let the sun warm up the soil before wrapping them up again at night, experts say.
Keep an eye on your plants that are in containers – they’re bad at acclimating to colder weather and often don’t develop a tolerance for lower temperatures.
💧 Don’t Forget To Water Your Plants, Even When It’s Cold Out.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension officials recommend watering your plants a day or so before freezing temperatures are expected. This helps protect them, as plants that are stressed from drought conditions are more likely to experience a cold weather injury.
Moist soil also helps plants absorb heat throughout the day before radiating it out on a cold night. Just make sure you don’t over water! Soil tends to dry out slower when it’s cold.
🌱 You Don’t Have To Stop Planting Just Because It’s Winter.
A benefit to living in Texas is our milder winters. Take advantage of this and plant to your heart’s content. Texas Landscape Creations says you can plant the following during winter months:
- Violas
- Holly shrubs
- Cyclamen
- Evergreen shrubs
- Onions
- Garlic
- Spinach
- Kale
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Mint
