Close Menu
  • Home
  • COMMUNITY NEWS
  • LOCAL NEWS & EVENTS
  • SCHOOL NEWS
  • MILITARY NEWS
  • CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETY
  • THINGS TO DO
  • HEALTH & WELLNESS
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • NORTHWEST FLORIDA NEWS
  • FLORIDA NEWS
  • Contact
Facebook
Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Niceville.com
Niceville.com
Home»HOME & GARDEN»Avoid stimulating tender landscape growth now
HOME & GARDEN

Avoid stimulating tender landscape growth now

Niceville.comNovember 19, 20233 Mins Read
niceville larry williams
Larry Williams,UF/IFAS Extension Agent, Okaloosa County.

FLORIDA — It is not too early to be thinking about the effect of cold weather on our landscapes. On average, our first killing frost for Northwest Florida usually occurs toward the end of November.

Advertisement

A killing frost results in sufficiently cold temperatures to kill tender plants, including warm-season vegetables such as tomatoes as well as cold-sensitive annuals such as impatiens. The occurrence usually kills all but the hardiest of plants.

Later in winter, we usually experience additional freezes, sometimes including hard freezes. Remember the multiple-night hard freeze that our area experienced during late December 2022?

Many of our North Florida landscape plants can be damaged by cold weather. Some of this damage can be reduced or possibly prevented when the plants are maintained correctly. There are things to do now to prevent some winter injury in your landscape.

Advertisement

First, strive to keep your landscape plants healthy. This includes trees, shrubs, and lawn grass. Avoid letting plants become stressed from lack of water or from being fertilized incorrectly.

When plants are weakened, they are more susceptible to disease and insect attack. This weakened condition will make the plants less likely to survive the winter months.

For most trees, shrubs, and warm-season lawn grasses, it is best to avoid fertilizing with a high-nitrogen fertilizer later than September. Nitrogen can force plants to produce new, tender growth late in the year. This young, tender growth is much more susceptible to cold injury.

Advertisement
A square digital ad for Midbay Veterinary Hospital with multiple dogs of different breeds, a blue veterinary cross logo, Dr. Maya Chapman’s contact information, and a “Click” button for scheduling an appointment.

Because pruning can cause plants to produce new growth, it’s best to avoid shearing trees and shrubs during fall. Usually, a few weeks after pruning, a plant will begin producing new growth. This new growth will be tender and subject to cold injury.

This applies more to haphazardly pruning plants back (shearing and severe pruning). It does not necessarily apply to thinning a few branches. Thinning implies the complete removal of branches and limbs and usually does not stimulate an abundance of young, tender shoots.

Two to three inches of mulch, such as fall leaves, pine straw, pine bark, or wood chips, placed over the plant’s roots will help protect the roots from freezing temperatures. This may not help in extreme hard freezes, though. However, it may delay freezing of the soil, allowing the plant’s roots to continue to take in needed water.

Advertisement
Deer Moss Creek® advertisement by Ruckel Properties, Inc. promoting available homes and lots.

In general, shorter days, cooler temperatures, and frosts are nature’s way of preparing plants to slow down in growth and get ready for cold temperatures. As this happens, it’s best to not do anything to stimulate late tender growth in our lawns, landscapes, and gardens.

Larry Williams is the Extension Horticulture Agent with the Okaloosa County Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida. Contact Larry at 689-5850 or email lwilliams@myokaloosa.com.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Previous ArticleConvicted 71-year-old bank robber indicted for another bank robbery
Next Article Traffic stop reportedly uncovers fentanyl: DeFuniak Springs man arrested

Related Posts

close-up of a woman’s shoulder showing a curved line of red, irritated bed bug bites.

UF warns travelers: Watch for bed bugs in Florida lodgings

June 24, 2025
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation logo on blue background

Wind mitigation tools released for hurricane season 

June 12, 2025
Larry Williams, Residential Horticulture Agent with the Okaloosa County Extension, University of Florida/IFAS

UF turf expert to teach proper watering for lawns at Crestview seminar

April 8, 2025
Advertisement
A square digital ad for Midbay Veterinary Hospital with multiple dogs of different breeds, a blue veterinary cross logo, Dr. Maya Chapman’s contact information, and a “Click” button for scheduling an appointment.
Categories
  • COMMUNITY NEWS
  • CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETY
  • FLORIDA NEWS
  • HEALTH & WELLNESS
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • IT'S GEEK TO ME
  • LARRY WILLIAMS
  • LOCAL NEWS & EVENTS
  • MARKETPLACE NEWS
  • MILITARY NEWS
  • NORTHWEST FLORIDA NEWS
  • OUTDOORS
  • ROADS / TRANSPORTATION
  • SCHOOL NEWS
  • THINGS TO DO
Advertisement
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
  • EGLIN FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
  • EYEWEAR UNLIMITED
  • HAIR EXPRESS
  • MIDBAY VETERINARY HOSPITAL
  • NICEVILLE FARMERS MARKET
  • NICEVILLE INSURANCE AGENCY
  • RUCKEL PROPERTIES, INC.
  • THE WHARF 850
Advertisement
Categories
  • COMMUNITY NEWS
  • CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETY
  • FLORIDA NEWS
  • HEALTH & WELLNESS
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • IT'S GEEK TO ME
  • LARRY WILLIAMS
  • LOCAL NEWS & EVENTS
  • MARKETPLACE NEWS
  • MILITARY NEWS
  • NORTHWEST FLORIDA NEWS
  • OUTDOORS
  • ROADS / TRANSPORTATION
  • SCHOOL NEWS
  • THINGS TO DO
Advertisement
Advertisement

ABOUT NICEVILLE.COM

PRIVACY POLICY

TERMS OF SERVICE

© 2025 Niceville.com. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.