ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 We\u2019re a couple days out from hunkering down during last weekend\u2019s record-breaking cold weather and you might be thinking it\u2019s a good time to tend to your outdoor plants.<\/p>\n
You\u2019d be correct, but the University of Florida\u2019s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is here to tell you exactly which garden chores likely need doing.<\/p>\n
Even if you winterized your plants like I did, you\u2019re advised to take a patient, plant-by-plant approach to welcoming them back to the sun.<\/p>\n
Read on for what the UF IFAS says you should and shouldn\u2019t do after a freeze, and keep well in mind that we may have to cover them again soon with more cold weather in the forecast<\/a>.<\/p>\n [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it\u2019s FREE)<\/a> | PINIT! Share your photos<\/a>] <\/p>\n What to do<\/p>\n Beyond the fact that this is Florida, one of the reasons we were so perplexed that it managed to snow<\/a> anywhere around here was due to the sheer dryness of the cold air that blasted through our area<\/a>.<\/p>\n That kind of wind can dry out plants and soil, so it\u2019s crucial that you at least tend to your plants\u2019 water needs. Watering your plants after a freeze can help thaw the soil and will hydrate the roots, according to UF IFAS, which adds container plants may need extra attention.<\/p>\n In general, have patience. It may look like a plant is dead or dying now, but there\u2019s no way to know for sure unless you wait for any possible new spring growth. UF IFAS also advises that plants which still look alive now may actually be damaged or dying and, similarly, time is needed to tell what is truly alive.<\/p>\n What not do do<\/p>\n