Florida Winter Tree Care

Preparing the Landscape for Cold Weather

Florida's winter hardly compares to the harsh northern conditions, but we do get some cold weather. We even get the occasional frost and the rare freeze in Mid Florida. A little pre-planning and proactive care can make the difference between your trees living or dying. 

The first thing you can do for your trees is to keep them healthy year round. (see my recommendation below) A healthy tree is more likely to survive a harsh winter vs. a tree that's already weakened. 

Get Ready for Winter

Avoid fertilizer in late fall and throughout the winter. Fertilizer promotes new growth, which is generally more prone to injury from the cold. Pruning in late fall and into the winter can also be troublesome as newly pruned trees may also be more easily damaged by the cooler temperatures. 

If you would like to keep less cold-hardy plants, keep them in containers so they can be moved to a protected area when we are expecting a freeze. Stock up on blankets for your most vulnerable trees.

This leads me to the next topic:

Pay attention to the weather forecasts.

We usually get some notice before a frost or hard freeze. When one is predicted, move your vulnerable potted plants inside or to an otherwise protected area.

Cover your trees with blankets before the temperature drops. Let the blanket reach all the way to the ground. An electric light bulb can be placed under the blanket for added heat. If you can't cover the entire tree, wrap just the trunk with blankets or newspaper.

Aftermath

Don't be too quick to prune away cold damaged portions of your trees. Once spring arrives, you'll be better able to see  what parts of the tree remain healthy and then prune only as needed. 

Of course, when you need help with your trees, I always recommend Mid Florida Tree Service. They've been in business about as long as I've been alive. They know their Florida trees and are ready to help you take the best possible care of your trees.