Uh oh, it's going to freeze tonight!

Freeze or Frost? Either one is bad news

Florida gardeners really hate the March freezes or frosts. Looks like we're in for one of our latest on record tomorrow evening.

So, what to do?

First let's understand the two types of freezes we can experience. The first is a Radiational freeze. This occurs on calm, clear nights when heat radiates off the ground and plants into the atmosphere. Radiational freezes can be mitigated by using a frost or freeze covering. Covers are more apt to prevent frosts then freezes.

The second type of freezing event is called Advective freezing. This is what we will experience tomorrow. These freeze/frost events are causes by a fast moving front that brings in cold air typically with windy conditions. The wind makes protecting your plants more difficult.

For either type of freezing use of covers, applying extra mulch, watering the day of the freeze (but not during the freeze) will help reduce, but not eliminate, damage. Move containers inside the garage or near the house in groups. I try not to bring them inside the house to avoid exposing plants to the extreme range of temperatures.

After the freeze event water your stressed plants gently and don't prune plants right away. Patience is a virtue so wait on that plant (however unsightly) to see how it recovers. Then prune dead leaves or branches conservatively.

Source: IFAS:Cold Protection of Landscape Plants