With the recent freeze across Florida, many plants and lawns may look stressed or damaged — but don’t panic. According to UF/IFAS (University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences), not all cold damage is permanent, and patience is key to proper recovery.
✅ What UF/IFAS recommends you DO now:
- Be patient. Cold damage may not appear for days or even weeks.
- Check soil moisture. Cold, windy conditions can dry plants out — water if soil is dry.
- Wait for spring growth. New growth will reveal what is truly alive.
🚫 What UF/IFAS says NOT to do yet:
- Don’t rush pruning. Pruning too early can remove living tissue and stimulate vulnerable new growth.
- Don’t fertilize yet. Fertilizing should wait until warmer weather and active growth return.
✂️ When it’s safe to prune (UF/IFAS guidance):
- Lightly scratch the bark:
- Green = alive
- Brown/black = dead
- Prune back only to healthy tissue once new growth begins.
🌱 Lawns:
- Brown turf after a freeze is often normal winter dormancy.
- Avoid fertilizing until spring green-up.
These recommendations come directly from UF/IFAS Extension, Florida’s trusted source for landscape and plant care research.
📩 If you’re unsure what to prune, remove, or leave alone, feel free to message us — we’re happy to help when the timing is right.
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Do It Right Lawn Care LLC
