RADIO TRANSCRIPT
Matt Rodriguez
November 4, 2024

This is Matt Rodriguez, horticulture agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Burke Center.

Today’s program is on protecting plants from cold damage. It’s important to be aware of what kind of damage your plants can be susceptible to. There are two main types of cold damage. Freeze damage occurs when the water inside a plant cell freezes and causes damage to the vascular system. Freeze damage is often irreversible. Frost damage occurs when a layer of frost covers the stomata, or pores, of the plant and interrupts natural cycles like photosynthesis. Frost damage can often be remedied. We have gotten a frost warning recently. Thankfully no one has reported any known damage so far. Freezing temperatures can be harmful to certain plants, especially tender perennials, annual herbaceous plants, and flowering plants with young buds. Symptoms of cold damage include leaf scorch, dying leaves, cracks in the stem or trunk, and plant death. The most common strategy is to cover young and tender plants with a sheet to trap heat and prevent moisture from accumulating. You might have seen your neighbors doing this.

If your plants do experience damage, prune off any dead or dying tissue and wait it out. The plant may still recover. These things take time to see the full effect. Preventative measures are key, though, so it is best to address the problem before it starts. It’s better to cover it up and not guess.

This has been Matt Rodriguez, horticulture agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Burke Center. For more information, call us at 828-764-9480.