Winter Frost Damage

How to Identify, Treat, and Help Your Landscape Recover

Every year, when extreme cold hits, we receive countless calls from concerned homeowners wondering how to care for their plants after a freeze. Cold damage can be alarming, but patience and proper care can make all the difference in your landscape’s recovery. Here’s what you need to know about frost damage and the best steps for helping your plants and lawn bounce back.

How to Identify Cold Damage

Cold damage can look different depending on the plant type, freeze severity, and exposure duration. Here’s what to watch for:

• Tropical & Subtropical Plants – Leaves may appear droopy, shriveled, or change color from green to brown or purple.

• Woody Plants & Shrubs – In extreme cases, Stems may split. Recovery is unlikely, or it may take several growing seasons.

• Frozen Plant Cells – Extended freezing causes ice crystals to form inside plant cells, leading to tissue rupture. Unfortunately, this type of damage is irreversible.

What to Do If You Notice Cold Damage

1. Be Patient!

The most important thing you can do after a freeze is wait. Damage may not be immediately visible, and it can take days or even weeks to show the full extent.

2. Avoid Immediate Pruning

It’s tempting to grab the pruners and start cutting away damaged areas, but premature pruning can expose plants to further stress. Instead:
✔ Remove only soft, mushy growth to prevent fungal issues.
✔ Wait until spring to prune woody plants—new growth will indicate which areas are still alive.

3. Perform a Scratch Test

To check if a plant is still alive, scratch a small section of bark on the stems. If it’s green underneath, that branch is still viable. If it’s brown and brittle, it’s dead and can be pruned back once spring growth emerges.

4. Expect Leaf Shedding

Many plants will naturally drop damaged leaves and push out new ones in spring. This can make landscapes look rough for a while, but don’t panic—new growth will replace what’s lost.

5. Assess Recovery in April

If your plants haven’t leafed out by April, do another scratch test to determine if they are still viable. If not, replacement may be necessary.

What About My Lawn?

Winter damage isn’t just a concern for trees and shrubs—your lawn can also suffer from extreme cold. Here’s what you need to know:

✔ Stay Off the Grass – Avoid walking on or putting weight on saturated lawns, as this can damage roots and cause ruts.
✔ Prepare for Possible Grass Loss – St. Augustine and Centipede grasses are especially vulnerable to severe cold and may struggle to break dormancy in spring. While there’s nothing to do now, be aware that some areas may need repair or overseeding.

Caring for Damaged Annuals

Cool-season annuals like pansies can recover if they were covered or planted in the ground. However, those in planters or left exposed may not survive. Even if the plant looks damaged, new growth may still emerge from the center, indicating that the roots survived.

Should You Prune Off Dead Blooms?

While unnecessary, deadheading spent blooms can encourage faster recovery and new flowers.

Woody vs. Tender Perennials

Tender Perennials

These plants are more susceptible to winter damage and may struggle to return in spring—or not come back at all.

Hardy Woody Perennials

For perennials like Russian Sage and Butterfly Bush, expect new growth to emerge lower on the plant than usual. Once they flush out in spring, trim back any remaining dead growth above the new foliage.

For evergreen ferns (such as Autumn Ferns), remove all winter-damaged fronds before new ones emerge.

Long-Term Recovery

Even if a plant looks fine in spring, cold damage to the root system can appear months later. If large portions of the root system are damaged, plants may struggle with summer heat stress and show signs of decline.

To help your plants recover and build resilience:
✔ Ensure proper watering—keep the soil moist but not waterlogged to encourage root regrowth.
✔ Consider our Ornamental Tree & Shrub Program for ongoing, science-based care tailored to your landscape’s needs.

• If you're not interested in our Ornamental Program, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer like Ferti-Lome Start-N-Gro in spring.

Final Thoughts

Cold damage can be frustrating, but patience and proper care are key to helping your landscape recover. By waiting to prune, protecting fragile plants, and monitoring long-term health, you give your yard the best chance at bouncing back.

🌿 Need expert help assessing winter damage? Contact us today to learn how our professional lawn and landscape care services can keep your property healthy all year long!