Our recent central Florida weather proves yet again that every couple of years gardeners face plant-damaging cold temperatures. During these cold snaps we bring out frost cloths and bring in containerized plants. With bated breath and crossed fingers we hope our beloved ornamental and edible plants will make it through.  And we still have much of February ahead of us.

Some winter tips for your landscape:

• Refrain from pruning back cold-damaged foliage too early. Why? Even if the outer foliage on plants show damage, leaving them intact can help protect the roots if there is further frost or freeze.  Additionally, brown stems on dormant plants provide winter habitat for our native pollinators and insects, and winter berries provide food for our native and migrating birds!
• When to prune back cold damaged plants in our area: Usually around the first of March or so after the last expected danger frost/freeze. Cut stems back to green (use your fingernail to scratch the stem).
• Walk through your landscape. If you do see a lot of cold damage, consider adding some evergreen species to provide winter interest to your yard.  When considering plants, check out the cold hardiness (check USDA hardiness zones) of your intended plants.  Concentrate on most of your plants being those that reliably thrive in our zone.
• For edible plants, check out which veggies, fruit, and herbs are the most hardy for our area.
• Mulch: If you are fortunate to live near live oak or other trees that drop leaves in the winter, know that these leaves make great organic mulch in your plant beds. But be aware that as these leaves pile up year after year, they can create too much of a good thing.
  * Long-time leaf mulch build-up becomes unsightly next to driveways/sidewalks (will spill over the edge and prevent achieving a clean clear “edge”).  Also, it will impede water drainage with water spilling over paved surfaces, creating stormwater runoff into our lakes and rivers.
  * Mulch that is too high (best recommended depth is 2-3 inches) will build up against plant center stems and tree trunks, increasing pests and diseases.
  * Extra leaves can be composted or bagged and shared with other gardeners!

Central Florida may not suffer long and brutal winter months, but we can still experience Spring Fever!  Spring will be here before we know it.  Happy Gardening!

For more information, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at (863) 519-1041 or visit us online at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. Give us a call or email us at polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu.

If you are not in Polk County, Contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic.

The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a volunteer-driven program that benefits UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program extends the vision of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, all the while protecting and sustaining natural resources and environmental systems, enhancing the development of human resources, and improving the quality of human life through the development of knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources and making that knowledge accessible.

This article was written by Master Gardener Volunteer Molly Griner under supervision of the Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator and Residential Horticulture Extension Agent Anne Yasalonis.

An Equal Opportunity Institution.

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