GARDEN GUY'S FREEZE SURVIVAL GUIDE Protect Your Sugar Land & Houston Landscape
Houston, we need to talk about the freeze that's coming. I'm Todd Farber, and I've been walking the yards of Sugar Land, Sienna, Telfair, and Sugar Creek for over 30 years. I'll never forget February 2021—watching helplessly as neighborhoods I've served for decades lost 60% of their plants overnight.
Thousands of dollars in landscaping, gone in a single cold snap. But here's what I learned walking every street after that devastating freeze: the yards that bounced back fastest weren't just lucky. They were prepared. And right now, with freezing temperatures in the forecast, you have a narrow window to protect your investment.
Your hibiscus, ixora, and plumbago don't care what the calendar says—they only know when their cells start freezing from the inside out. This guide will show you exactly what temperatures kill which plants, and more importantly, what you need to do RIGHT NOW to save your landscape from becoming another 2021 statistic.
KNOW YOUR CRITICAL TEMPERATURES:
IXORA - Your Most Vulnerable Plant
Starts dropping leaves: 35-40°F
Serious damage begins: Upper 20s°F (27-29°F)
Often dies completely: Below 27°F
ACTION: Ixora is your early warning system—if it's struggling, EVERYTHING needs protection
HIBISCUS - Second Most Sensitive
Growth stops, leaves yellow: Below 50°F
Frost damage begins: 32°F
Severe damage/death: Below 30°F for 2+ hours
Can survive mid-20s IF heavily protected
ACTION: Cover when temps drop below 35°F
PLUMBAGO - Most Forgiving Tropical
Loses leaves: Below 32°F
Dies to ground (roots survive): Mid-20s°F (around 25°F)
Regrows from roots in spring
ACTION: Protect tops with cover; mulch roots heavily
THE DEADLY ZONES ALL PLANTS FACE:
28°F for 4+ hours = Light freeze zone
Tender annuals, new growth on all plants damaged
25°F for 2+ hours = Moderate freeze zone
Unprotected perennials killed, established shrubs damaged, vascular tissue in stems ruptures
20°F or below = SEVERE DAMAGE ZONE
Ice crystals form INSIDE plant cells, bursting walls from the inside out. Even cold-hardy plants suffer permanent damage.
Multiple freeze/thaw cycles = MORE DEADLY than one hard freeze
Cumulative vascular damage kills plants weeks later, even if they looked "fine" after the first freeze
TODD'S 30+ YEARS OF FREEZE LESSONS:
✓ START PROTECTING AT 35°F - Don't wait for freezing temps
✓ WATER BEFORE A FREEZE - Moist soil holds heat better than dry
✓ MULCH HEAVILY - 4-6" around plant base protects roots
✓ COVER WITH FROST CLOTH - Better than sheets; allows air circulation
✓ ADD CHRISTMAS LIGHTS - Old incandescent bulbs under covers add crucial degrees
✓ DON'T PRUNE DAMAGED PLANTS - Wait until March; dead foliage protects living tissue
✓ NEVER WATER DURING THE FREEZE - Ice formation damages more than cold air
WHAT WE LEARNED IN FEBRUARY 2021:
Sienna, Telfair, and Sugar Creek lost 60% of their plants. The yards that survived weren't lucky—they were prepared.
www.AskGardenGuy.com | 📱 281-208-4400
Todd Farber - Garden Guy
Texas A&M Trained Horticulturist
Serving Sugar Land & Fort Bend County Since 1991
Free freeze-prep advice - TEXT 281-208-4400
SHARE THIS NOW - Your neighbors need to see this before the freeze! ↗️
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