Crape myrtle trees are often aggressively pruned each winter regardless of the location. Learn three steps from the University of Florida IFAS Escambia Extension to selectively prune your crape myrtles to maintain an attractive tree form in your landscape.
During the summer months, we can’t seem to get away from insects. Whether it’s a fly circling your food, those pesky aphids in your garden, or a mosquito out for blood, they make their presence known. But when winter rolls around and temperatures drop, they seem to disappear. But where do they go?
Unlike humans, insects are exothermic or cold blooded. They cannot regulate their own body temperature and must rely on the heat of the environment. Each insect species has its own developmental threshold, a temperature below which no development takes place. For many insects, that threshold is about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, consecutively, the insect is not active, and no development is occurring. Typically, the warmer the temperature is (as long as it is above the development threshold), the more insect activity we see.
Insects may also enter a state called diapause, which is similar to hibernation. During diapause, an insect’s metabolism slows dramatically, and the insect stops feeding, growing, or reproducing. This allows the insect to survive through cold winter conditions, conserving energy until temperatures warm up again.
Monarch butterfly. Photo credit: Lyle Buss, UF/IFAS
Another insect survival technique during the winter is migration. Many species of insects migrate to warmer climates to escape the cold. A well-known example of this is with the infamous Monarch butterfly migration. Monarchs migrate south to Mexico to overwinter and survive the cold weather. Some other insects migrate in smaller, less noticeable ways such as moving to different micro-climates. For example, beetle grubs may move down deep within the leaf litter to stay warm. Insects like lady beetles may congregate in large numbers inside homes, barns, or buildings during the winter.
Some insect species can produce glycerol, a type of anti-freeze, that prevents their body from freezing even when temperatures drop below freezing.
While many insects seem to disappear during the winter, they’re actually using their time wisely and although, cooler temperatures may slow down their activity, they won’t necessarily change insect populations drastically. Insects are well adapted for survival, and they are here to stay. They’re just enjoying a break until the warmth of spring brings them back!
For more information on insects, please contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Office.
Snowman in the Garden. Photo Credit: Abbey Smith, UF/IFAS Extension
2025 has already been a year for the books, as Winter Storm Enzo has proven that it really can snow in the Sunshine State. With the fluffy white snow also comes below freezing temperatures, therefore most landscape plants that fit the hardiness zones of Florida are not cold-tolerant or what is also called “cold-hardy.” In the Florida Panhandle, freezes are becoming more prevalent in recent years, so it is best to act ahead of time to protect your patio and landscape plants from feeling the adverse winter affects.
Gardenia bush in the snow. Photo Credit: Abbey Smith, UF/IFAS Extension Jackson County
It is always best to do your research and know what hardiness zone(s) your plants will thrive in. This will help you understand the level of cold tolerance the plant can withstand and will allow you to select cold tolerant varieties that will grow best in the Florida Panhandle. You can find your hardiness zone by using this link: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/.
Proper care throughout the year will also help your patio and porch plants withstand freezing temperatures; a healthy plant has a better chance of recovering from cold damage than an unmaintained one. A freeze event can usually be spotted in the forecast multiple days in advance, and it is best to be proactive by moving potted plants that would be adversely affected to the indoors or to a warmer sheltered area.
One of the most effective ways to protect your plants from cold weather is covering them up during the night. Frost cloths can be purchased at most garden stores or through online platforms. If you are unable to buy frost cloths, you can use breathable materials such as old bed sheets or burlap bags that will still allow for air flow to the plant but keep it insulated and warm.
Example of frost cloth protection. Photo Credit: Molly Jameson, UF/IFAS Extension Leon County
You can also use mulch for insulation. Applying a thick layer of mulch around the base of your landscape plants will help insulate the soil to regulate ground temperatures and protect the plant’s root system from cold weather damage. Pine straw or leaves will work best and should be applied in a 3-to-4-inch layer kept away from the base of your stem or trunk of the plant. In some cases, it may be necessary to use an outdoor heat lamp, but always ensure that it is placed away from any flammable materials and only used as needed.
It has been said that using your irrigation at home can be a form of freeze protection. This is typically not effective for a homeowner. When farmers run irrigation to protect their crop, the irrigation systems that are used commercially are designed for scenarios like this. The irrigation must be run for several hours after temperatures rise for this method to work and protect the plants. With a home irrigation system, this is considered water-wasteful and the amount of water a home irrigation system emits can turn into heavy ice quickly, which will damage your plant rather than offer protection.
Cold protection for plants in Northwest Florida is all about preparation. Whether its covering plants, adding mulch to your landscape, or moving your plants indoors, a little effort can go a long way in preventing cold damage. With a bit of TLC, you can keep your landscape and garden beautiful all year long.
For more information please visit:
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/weather/treating-cold-damaged-plants/
Gardening in the Panhandle LIVE! is launching Season 6 with new topics starting on March 6, 2025! Each episode is delivered live on Zoom Webinar then posted to our YouTube Playlist. If you would like to join us live and help drive the panel discussion, be sure to click on the title below to register and submit your questions a few days prior to air date.
| March 6, 2025 | Foodscaping in North Florida | Learn how to incorporate edible plants into your landscape. Whether your goal is a large vegetable garden or one tree with edible fruit, we can help you find ways to make your landscape a source of fresh food! |
| April 10, 2025 | Freeze Friendly Foliage Plants | Are you trying to create a tropical look in your North Florida yard but frustrated with freeze damage? Let us teach you what plants can offer lush foliage and withstand cold weather! |
| May 22, 2025 | Pests of Florida Lawns and Landscape Plants | Not only people love Florida’s climate, but many plant pests thrive here, too. Learn how to identify and manage landscape pests using Florida-Friendly Landscaping practices. |
| August 21, 2025 | Great Southeast Pollinator Census – Bee a Citizen Scientist! | We all know the importance of pollinators, but how can you help to support them? Join us to learn how to attract, identify, and count for the 2025 Great Southeast Pollinator Count! |
| September 11, 2025 | How to Care for Houseplants | Growing houseplants can be tricky since our indoor climate is very different from outdoors. Learn how to help your houseplants thrive while keeping your home comfortable! |
| October 9, 2025 | Bulbs for North Florida | Flowering bulbs can create dramatic impact in the landscape, but some have specific requirements that might not fit our climate and soil conditions. Learn how to select the right ones for your North Florida landscape! |
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Have a Happy, Green 2025!
This is the time of year where we often pledge to change and/or improve something about ourselves, but why not have a garden resolution, too. If you’d like a garden resolution or you’ve run out of personal resolution ideas (and you’re a gardener), then I have a couple of suggestions to help you garden with purpose this year.
Try to Accept more Imperfections in Your Landscape
Just like maybe we shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves or family members, we should also give our landscapes some grace. It’s hard to be perfect, and most landscapes have some minor, mostly aesthetic, imperfections, but that’s okay. Consider these landscape imperfections signs of character and what make it unique. Try to focus on the positive qualities of the overall landscape and not fixate on minor insect damage or a weed or two in the lawn. You may find that many of these issues clear themselves up on their own and your anxiety, worry, and efforts were not needed.
Reduce Pesticide Use
Somewhat dovetailing with accepting more imperfections, try and pledge to use less pesticides in your landscape. Many pesticides are applied in an attempt to fix minor landscape problems that often go away on their own. Based on numbers collected by various agencies, gardeners apply literal tons of pesticides to their ornamental landscapes. These products have environmental impacts and are often not fixing the problem, due to misdiagnosis, wrong timing of application, and/or other improper usage.
The UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program has more information on how to manage landscape pests responsibly.
The native southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is a great native tree to plant in your landscape. Credit: Laura Ciociola.
Plant More Native Species
When thinking of new plantings or browsing the nursery, consider selecting native species for your landscape. Native species are more adapted to our native insects, diseases, soil conditions and climactic patterns. Native plants aren’t necessarily easier to grow – you still need to take care to get them well established – but they tend to be better able to handle the environmental stressors of our area. Additionally, native plants are most likely to benefit native wildlife species.
Local nurseries typically only offer plants well suited to your area and are your neighbors! Credit: Native Nurseries
Shop at Local Nurseries
When looking for those native plant species, try to support your local nursery businesses. Local nurseries tend to only carry the plants that are best suited to the area, and they’re your neighbors, too. To help find both native plant species and local nurseries, there is an association of Florida native plant nurseries (the Florida Association of Native Nurseries – FANN) that has a wonderful online search tool to find the perfect plant from the closest nursery.
Of course, don’t forget to utilize your local extension office if you decide to take on these resolutions. Whether it be help confirming that it is just a minor imperfection, help diagnosing a disease or insect problem, selecting native plant species, and or finding a local plant nursery, your local extension office can lead you in the right direction. UF/IFAS Extension’s Gardening Solutions webpage and Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program site also have plenty of online resources to help you have another successful and sustainable gardening year.
Happy New Year and Happy Gardening!