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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nResponse for Citrus:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n How can I protect my trees for the rest of the winter?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The best option is a heat lamp under a blanket or frost cloth that completely covers the tree to the ground<\/p>\n\n\n\n What do I do now to my damaged trees?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Do not prune citrus trees now. We do not yet know the extent of damage to limbs, branches, and the trunks of trees. By May or June limb damage will be obvious. Wait until then to prune these dead limbs by pruning into the green wood below the dead wood. Any fruit left on trees was frozen and is no longer good. In general frozen fruit is only good to use as juice but fruit should be juiced within a couple of days after freezing. <\/p>\nJake Price, Citrus Agent<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Response for Woody Ornamentals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The hard freeze likely affected plants, especially ones in exposed locations and those with marginal cold hardiness. For the woody plants, much of the year-old twigs on the canopy periphery have been affected. In the north, they call this \u201cfrost pruning\u201d. You can assess the damage (that is, how far down the stem the dead cells extend) later when the tissue dries out. These affected portions can be pruned off in the spring but if left, the plant will outgrow them – in a way \u201cshed\u201d them, as the buds break and new twigs start growing. Pruning now is not recommended, because that damaged tissue can serve as protection in case we get more hard frosts later<\/p>\nBodie Pennisi, Horticulture Specialist<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Response for Turfgrass<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We will not truly know until spring green-up but grasses that were fully dormant likely will not have any long-term effects. Microclimates (e.g. shade) may be exceptions. In general, our turfgrasses are resilient plants and will likely be fine. Exceptions may include the stoloniferous species(i.e. centipedegrass and St. Augustinegrass) being grown beyond their ideal zone of adaptation (e.g. Macon). From a turfgrass perspective, it was better for this freeze to occur in December than in March.<\/em><\/p>\nClint Waltz, Turf Specialist<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n
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