Lawn

Bermuda grass, Tall Fescue and Zoysia grass are more cold-tolerant than Centipede grass and St. Augustine grass. We won’t know the severity of the freeze damage until the grass begins to green up. If your lawn went into the winter with severe stress such as disease damage, dry conditions or too much shade, it might struggle to survive. As your lawn begins to green up this spring, your TruGreen specialist can evaluate the extent of the damage and provide recommendations.

Bedding Plants

Many of the annual and tropical plants in the beds around your property may be completely killed.  Examples include begonias, hibiscus, impatiens, lantana and Mexican heather.

Tree & Shrub

Most trees and shrubs are hardy enough to withstand freezing temperatures. Plants that are most susceptible to damage are: Asian jasmine, boxwood, camellia, crape myrtles, mondo grass, oleander, palms, pittosporum, privet, and any tropical plants. Damage to some of these plants will show up soon after the freezing temperatures are gone. The plants will turn brown, droop and appear wilted. It’s also possible the damage may not be evident until spring or when they attempt to resume growth. Trees like oaks may develop bark splits on the trunk. Other plants may develop small cracks in the branches from ice and snow load that may result in dead branches in the spring.

What can I do to help my landscape recover from the freeze?

• Be patient. Many damaged plants will slowly recover.
• After the last freeze, which is usually in mid-March, prune your trees and shrubs back to the green wood to stimulate recovery.
• Wait until mid-March to “scalp” Bermuda lawn. This means removing the dormant grass blades by lowering your normal mowing height by 1 setting.
• Fertilization along with regular maintenance practices like proper watering and mowing will play a critical role in helping lawn recovery.

Any plants (lawn or landscape) that were under stress during the freeze due to heavy thatch, exposed roots, excessive shade and unprotected northern exposure might have damage. 

Your lawn is in good hands with TruGreen. We’ll work with you every step of the way to help your lawn and landscape through this unusually cold weather event. 

For more information on winter lawn damage, check out TruGreen's blog.