AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Alabama gardens and landscapes will take a hit from winter weather conditions this weekend (Jan. 23–25). Low temperatures and freezing rain are forecasted for the northern half of the state, similar to the conditions that the area faced this time last year. However, while snow was the main concern then, ice is the big threat to plants this year.

Brian Brown, an Alabama Extension home horticulture agent at Auburn University, said ice has much more potential to damage plants than snow does.

“The ice forecasted for this upcoming storm is the main concern,” Brown said. “When ice accumulates on plants, it can add weight to stems and branches, potentially causing serious damage from breakage.”

While the threats are not as severe as in north Alabama, gardeners in the southern half of the state will also face troubles with this bout of winter weather. Cold rain is expected, with temperatures dropping to 32 degrees Fahrenheit and lower in some areas.

“Outdoor plants have already acclimated to the cold, so most of them should be fine,” Brown said. “When temperatures drop to single digits, there is the potential for some plants to experience damage, but you will not be able to access the extent of that damage for several weeks.”

Preventative Measures

There are some preventative measures that people can take if they are concerned about cold injury to their plants. One of the most important things is to water plants well. Wet soil better retains heat and will release it slowly during cold snaps. Also, dehydrated plants are more vulnerable to cold damage.

Another commonly used method is to loosely cover plants with a fabric. This can increase the ambient air temperature by up to 5 degrees. Brown said it is better to use a cloth material, rather than plastic, to cover plants.

“Heat is emitted from the ground, not from the plant,” he said. “When using covers, make sure the cloth goes all the way to the ground and that there are no openings for heat to escape. Remove the cloth in the morning when temperatures rise above freezing.”

More Information

The Extension Brief, “Garden Recovery After a Snow Event in Alabama,” outlines some key considerations once winter weather passes. For more information, people can contact the home horticulture Extension agent in their area. Contact information can be found in the online directory at aces.edu.