RADIO TRANSCRIPT
October 23, 2023
Taylor Campbell

This is Taylor Campbell, horticulture extension agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension Burke Center. Today’s program is on cold damage on plants.

As cold weather approaches, it is important to take steps to protect your landscape plants from cold damage. If the weather forecast includes freezing temperatures, cover tender plants with a sheet or cardboard to protect them.

Hardier shrubs can be sprayed generously with water before a freeze, as the water will generate heat and prevent long-lasting damage.

Cold damage typically shows up as brown, dry foliage. If you suspect your shrubs have cold damage, go ahead and prune off the brown pieces of foliage when there is no risk of frost. This will help the plant to recover.

As always we cannot control the weather, so it is best to choose native plants that are adapted to our zone. This lowers the risk of losing plants in your landscape to cold damage.

This has been Taylor Campbell, horticulture extension agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension Burke Center. For more information, call us at 764-9480.