3 Tips for Texas Gardeners this Spring

March 25, 2021

If you lived in Texas this winter or a warm climate that experienced crazy freezes this past season, you’ve probably stepped out into your garden this spring, wondering what to do next. Are your plants alive, how do you ensure their survival, and how to best care for your garden during this time are probably all questions running through your head; I know they’d be running through mine! We’ve compiled 3 simple tips to help you best assess and care for your garden this season after an abnormally harsh winter.

1. Wait

Wait! We know, patience is easier for us to recommend than for someone to actually do in the garden, but patience is the best thing you can offer to cold-damaged plants right now. Most plants have auxiliary buds deep in their stem that can take over growth if their primary buds were damaged. However, the plant is usually going to wait until conditions have been stable for some time before it deploys them. Give your plants some time to show you how they are doing instead of you deciding for them.

2. Put Down The Pruners

It can be extremely tempting to cut things back – it helps you feel in control of everything that happened. But this is likely to cause more harm than good, and you could remove living portions of the plant that are crucial to its comeback. Once you see new growth starting to emerge, then you can prune back any portions that are clearly dead. It is worth mentioning that if you have plants that are mushy or black, those portions can be removed. However, don’t remove anything simply because it isn’t yet showing signs of life.

3. TLC

Because of the extremity and longevity of the cold temperatures, even plants that did survive are going to need a boost to come back. Keep a close eye on plants that you know or strongly suspect are alive, and give them an application of a granular fertilizer like Espoma RoseTone. If weather is hot or dry, provide supplemental water, even if they are normally tolerant of such conditions. Any extra attention you pay to them now will be a huge help in their recovery.

Written by: Miranda Niemic, click here to read bio.

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