KCEN-TV

The cold snap earlier this week may have affected some landscaping, but Central Texas gardeners say there’s still a lot to do to winterize your yard.

Old Man Winter didn’t wait for the official start of the season to bring us our first freeze, but other past conditions could also affect how you’re landscaping looks right now.

Bobby Storm owns Storm’s Nursery in Waco. He says “A lot of times the drought’s effect on the plant may not show up for a year, two years even three or four years.”

Storm says Central Texans need to keep their plants and shrubs well-hydrated this winter.

He points out you don’t have to stick to a strict schedule. “It’s sort of like a drink of water. You don’t take a drink at the same time everyday. You water when the plants need it,” says Storm.

Watering plants right before a freeze is especially important. Landscapers say it gives plants a good soaking while insulating the root system.

Mulch also helps protect plants. McLennan County Master Gardener Mark Barnett says some landscaping in open areas, such as a banana tree, may need extra care right before temperatures drop again.

“You may need to wrap the trunks with some type of protective material, blankets or something to keep them from freezing, if you want to start out with a full size banana in the spring,” says Barnett.